Rugby’s global boom has seen salaries skyrocket, with clubs paying top dollar for star names in hopes of instant success.
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But big-money contracts don’t always translate to big on-field impact. From Europe to Japan, some of the world’s most celebrated players delivered surprisingly modest returns in 2024/25, leaving fans and clubs questioning whether the investment was worth it.
Here’s a look at the five most overpaid rugby players of the season, measured not just by reputation, but by minutes played, points scored, and cost per contribution.
5. Marcus Smith (Harlequins) – £600,000
The young England fly-half earned a sizeable £600,000 for the 2024/25 season at Harlequins, yet his performances didn’t always justify the price tag. Smith played 1,351 minutes across 18 matches—966 in the Premiership and 385 in the Champions Cup—scoring a total of 45 points.
- £ per minute: £444
- £ per point: £13,333
While Smith showed flashes of his well-known skill and creativity, inconsistency and limited impact in key moments meant that his high salary did not always match his on-field returns.
4. Dan Biggar (Toulon) – £800,000
The veteran Welsh fly-half retired at the end of the 2024/25 season, having been his country’s highest-paid player while at Toulon. However, his time in the south of France largely failed to justify such a salary. A combination of injuries and reported clashes with the club’s top brass limited his impact, making his tenure forgettable.
Biggar played 1,512 minutes across all competitions, scoring 74 points.
- £ per minute: £529
- £ per point: £10,811
For a player commanding such a high salary, these returns were modest, highlighting a clear case of overpayment during his final professional season.