Mike Tindall was an England rugby player (Image: GETTY)
The rugby industry continues to blossom worldwide, with its market being valued at £3.29billion in 2023. By 2030, it is forecasted to hit £5.16bn.
The wealth of the industry is also reflected in the net worth of some of the games’ top players of the past and present.
In 2024, Simon McDowell topped the list of the world’s wealthiest rugby players, reportedly boasting a net worth of £44.28million. A former Irish rugby player whose career was prematurely ended by injury, McDowell successfully transitioned to being an umpire and notably manages the prosperous Kilwaughter Chemical Company owned by the McDowell family, which supplies products to the construction and agriculture sectors.
The second-richest rugby player in history is Sonny Bill Williams, with a reported net worth of £20.5m, amassed through his remarkable careers in rugby union, rugby league, and boxing, as well as profitable endorsement deals with international brands like Adidas and Powerade.
Jonny Wilkinson, famed for his match-winning drop goal in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, has a reported net worth of £17.42m, thanks to his rugby career with both Falcons and Toulon, along with his business ventures and endorsement deals.
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Simon McDowell (Image: Getty)
, who became a familiar name to Britons not just for his success as an England rugby player but also thanks to his marriage to , Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter, in 2011, has a reported net worth of £16.4m.
While his rugby career was noteworthy, his media presence – including appearances on the reality show – has also contributed significantly to his wealth over the years.
At a mere 30 years of age, Handre Pollard is the youngest on this list, boasting a reported net worth of £2.46m.
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The South African fly-half has already enjoyed an illustrious career, playing a crucial part in South Africa’s triumph at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
With his continued success at Leicester Tigers, Pollard is set for further financial prosperity in the future.
The worldwide rugby industry has seen substantial growth, with the 2023 Rugby World Cup generating a whopping £1.55bn in expenditure and contributing a net sum of £749.06m to the French economy.