Rugby's rich list: The world's highest-paid players in 2020

While the salaries of athletes from top-tier sporting leagues such as the NBA, NFL and Premier League are flaunted throughout media outlets worldwide, it can be comparatively difficult to know how much the best rugby players rake in.

However, WalesOnline have gone some way to dispel that notion by publishing a list which has ranked the top 15 earners in the code from around the world - even in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Forming such a list has presented its challenges, though, with the outbreak resulting in some of the game's biggest names are set to see their contracts expire without taking to the field again.

WalesOnline reports that legendary playmaking duo Dan Carter and Matt Giteau are on contracts worth around £1.1m (NZ$2.2m/AU$2.1m) at Kobelco Steelers and Suntory Sungoliath, respectively, but both players are set to move on following the cancellation of this year's Top League.

Other big earners in Japan, including former All Blacks skipper Kieran Read and Wallabies great David Pocock, face uncertain futures, while it is difficult to accurately estimate the earnings of someone like star All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick.

The 28-year-old has signed a four-year deal with New Zealand Rugby which will see him through to the 2023 World Cup in France, but a two-year sabbatical with Kobelco clouds those estimations.

His long-time second row partner Sam Whitelock was in a similar position this year when he was allowed a six-month break from his new four-year deal with NZR to join the Panasonic Wild Knights, but has since returned to New Zealand due to the pandemic.

Add to that the mass pay cuts players have been taking around the globe, and it's no easy task trying to unravel the yearly incomes of the planet's best players.

Nevertheless, that is exactly what WalesOnline have done, with their list of the 15 best-paid rugby players around the world featured below.

15. Faf de Klerk (South Africa/Sale Sharks) - £500,000 (R11.m)

A key member of South Africa's World Cup-winning Springboks squad last year, halfback Faf de Klerk signed a contract extension with Premiership club Sale Sharks in 2018 that sees him earn half-a-million pounds per year.

14. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand/Blues) - £520,000 (NZ$1m)

Two-time World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett quashed rumours of a big-money offshore move last year when he signed a four-year deal with NZR that included a high-profile Super Rugby transfer from the Hurricanes to the Blues.

13. Finn Russell (Scotland/Racing 92) - £535,000 (€611,276)

Out-of-favour Scotland star Finn Russell reportedly doubled his money when he joined Racing 92 from the Glasgow Warriors in 2018, and has since excelled in France's Top 14.

12. Johnny Sexton (Ireland/Leinster) - £536,000 (€612,419)

2018 World Rugby player of the year Johnny Sexton returned to his native Leinster five years ago following a brief stint with Racing 92, and has gone on to become Ireland's highest-paid player.