Forget what you've read in the newspapers or online. That's according to former Ireland rugby star Ronan O'Gara, at least.
The top rugby players are earning a decent wedge but it won't be enough to see them put the feet up after they retire. Earlier this week,
Midi Olympique published a list of rugby's top earners.
During a fascinating discussion about player contracts on
The Hard Yards [from 21:00 below], O'Gara laid out some home truths about rugby's rich-lists and about what players are realistically earning.
Midi has Dan Carter at £1.27m per season with Matt Giteau [£593k], Duane Vermeulen, Rabah Slimani and Leigh Halfpenny [£509k] and five other Top 14 stars on £424k in their Top 10.
"You're making the crucial error there of believing Midi Olympique," O'Gara said.
"I don't think you should believe what you read in the papers. I really don't."
"For example, Dan is on a great salary but how much of that is earned off the pitch [with sponsors and corporate commitments]?"
