Highest paid Prem position just one of 3 to increase from previous year

Fly-half is yet again the highest-paid position in the Gallagher Premiership, with an average (mean) income of £231,182, as reported in the 2023/24 salary cap report.

While No.10s continue to be the most highly valued players in the league, their half-back partners remain the lowest-paid players on average, at £119,614.

Fly-halves also saw the steepest increase in average income compared to the 2022/23 season, rising from £220,847 to £231,182.

Only two other positions saw an increase from the previous year, back-row (from £159,467 to £160,908) and hooker (£128,556 to £133,232).

Fixture

Gallagher Premiership

Saracens

36 - 26

Full-time

Bath

All Stats and Data

Despite the increase, hooker remains the third-lowest paid position in the league, ahead of wing and scrum-half. Back-rows, meanwhile, have risen from the fifth-highest paid to the second-highest paid position in the league.

Centre (from £178,755 to £160,720), second-row (from £174,785 to £154,100) and full-back (from £169,918 to £133,994) have seen the sharpest decrease in average income, while prop, wing and scrum-half have experienced marginal decreases.

In the third consecutive season whereby the salary cap level was £5m, the report revealed that overall (senior and academy) average squad sizes decreased from 76 to 73.

Premiership Rugby CEO Simon Massie-Taylor said: “This, our fourth report of its kind, provides insights into the operation and management of Premiership Rugby’s salary cap for the 2023-24 salary cap year.

“The report includes comparative data on player salaries and income between the 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 salary cap years.

“Over the past five Gallagher Premiership Rugby seasons, there have been five different title-winning clubs. Compared to other rugby competitions and compared to other major sports in the UK, this stands the Premiership out as an incredibly unpredictable and competitive league.

“The salary cap framework is central to ensuring Gallagher Premiership Rugby is a highly competitive competition that is seeing record viewership and attendances as a result.”