[imagesource:instagram/@mariselibbok]

It’s not easy to determine what top sports stars earn.

While salaries earned by the players at their respective clubs are more readily available and known, their sponsorships and endorsements muddy things a bit.

It is known, however, that two South Africans are on a list of the top 10 highest-paid players at this year’s Rugby World Cup.

The Citizen reported on a WalesOnline story that names Handre Pollard (pictured up top) – recalled to the Springbok squad last week as an injury replacement for Malcolm Marx – and Cheslin Kolbe as the two Springbok players who both feature in the top 10.

Pollard plays for Leicester Tigers in England, while Kolbe has recently swapped Toulon for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan.

The amounts that they apparently earn are calculated from their salaries for the 2022/23 season and the upcoming 2023/24 season.

Third on the list is Kolbe, who is said to be earning around R21.3 million a year, while Pollard is ninth on the list, apparently earning R14.4 million.

Meanwhile, Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell is the absolute top earner, allegedly earning between £950,000 and £ 1 million per year, which is up to R23.68 million. He most recently played for Racing 92 in France, but following the World Cup will turn out for Bath in England.

Check out the top 10 highest-paid rugby players at the moment:

• Tadgh Furlong (Ireland) £605,000 (R14.32-m)
• Handre Pollard (South Africa) £610,000 (R14.4-m)
• Steven Luatua (Samoa) £620,000 (R14.7-m)
• Antoine Dupont (France) £700,000 (R16.6-m)
• Owen Farrell (England) £800,000 (R19-m)
• Dan Biggar (Wales) £800,00 (R19-m)
• Maro Itoje (England) £800,000 (R19-m)
• Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) £900,000 (R21.3-m)
• Charles Piutau (Tonga) £1-million (R23.68-m)
• Finn Russell (Scotland) £ 1 million (R23.68-m)

Nice one, guys.

Still, Woolies’ CEO Roy Bagattini is earning way, way more with a solid R122.47 million salary for the year 2023.

[source:citizen]