One of the biggest benefits of playing professional sport is that you have a much higher earning potential than the average person.
However, you earn most of your income in a shorter window, and your overall financial position depends on the level at which you play.
Understanding how your earnings might differ from a traditional career can give you an insight into the unique financial planning challenges this poses.
Read on to learn what the average lifetime earnings of a rugby player could be.
A Premiership player could have lifetime earnings of approximately £1.88 million
Naturally, your earnings will likely increase throughout your career as you progress through different levels of the sport.
For instance, Rugby Pass reports that the average salary of an academy player in 2024/25 was £19,851.
This increases significantly once a player reaches the Premiership, with the average wage being £165,181.
Playing internationally will boost your earnings further, as players with more than 50 test caps had average annual earnings of £342,633.
Meanwhile, Rugby Pass also states that the average salary for a Championship player is approximately £25,000, while a more experienced player could earn up to £70,000 a year.
As such, your total earnings could vary significantly depending on the trajectory of your career and how long you play for.
According to ISAKOS, the average career length of a non-international player is 11.4 years, while international players play for 13.8 years.
Using the figures above, a non-international player could earn a total of roughly £1.88 million, while an international player might earn approximately £4.73 million.
These are only estimates but serve as a useful illustration of how you could earn a significant amount during a relatively short career.
The latest figures show that the average lifetime earnings in the UK are £566,000
The average earnings of a professional rugby player are typically far higher than those of non-sportspeople.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in 2020, the average lifetime earnings per head in the UK were £566,000. This figure has likely increased as wages have risen since then.
Crucially, these earnings are spread over a longer period.
Even if they pursue higher education, the average person might start working at 21. If they continued working until the State Pension Age of 66 (gradually rising to 67 by April 2028), they could be in employment for 45 years.
This means that your earning pattern is very different from most people, and you may need to consider this when deciding how to manage your wealth.
It is important to manage lifestyle creep when your earnings increase overnight
The disparity in your earnings as you progress through your career makes you particularly susceptible to lifestyle creep.
Imagine that you started in the academy, earning less than £20,000 a year, and then signed a contract with a Premiership team. Your earnings could rise to upwards of £100,000 in a very short space of time.
You might see a similar jump if you play for your country, too, and your earnings will grow as you become more experienced.
It is only natural to want to enjoy your increased earning potential by moving into a nicer house, buying a new car, and taking holidays with your family.
However, if you upgrade your lifestyle too quickly, you risk spending all of your additional income on luxuries and missing opportunities to build wealth for the future.
This might leave you in a difficult position when you finish playing and your earnings suddenly fall. It is also worth considering that your career could end earlier than planned if you are seriously injured.
You may struggle to maintain your current standard of living unless you have established alternate income streams and built strong wealth reserves.
Investing and building a safety net while your earning potential is high can build lasting financial security
While it is tempting to spend frivolously while you are earning well, you may also want to look ahead.
Taking the opportunity to build a healthy cash reserve means that you are resilient against financial shocks. Additionally, when you do stop playing, you can draw on this cash to help you maintain your lifestyle.
You may also consider investing a portion of your wealth, and this could benefit you in several ways.
First, by investing in the stock market, you might generate more growth than you would if you held large amounts of cash. Later in life, after your rugby career ends, you can draw from this wealth to fund your lifestyle or perhaps open up new income streams by starting a business.
Second, your investments could provide a direct income. Certain shares pay dividends (a portion of the profits the company earns, paid to shareholders) and you could use this to cover some or all of your living expenses.
Alternatively, you might opt for property investments that generate a regular rental income.
However, all investments carry some level of risk and vary in terms of your tax position and how easily you can access the wealth.
We can help you design an investment strategy that suits your lifestyle and attitude to risk, while ensuring you understand your tax position.
Contributing to your pension earlier in life can maximise the growth you achieve
As well as investing wealth to secure your financial position in mid-life, after your rugby career ends, you might look ahead to your eventual retirement.
When you contribute to a pension, the funds are invested on your behalf and you potentially benefit from compound growth. The earlier you pay in, the longer your wealth has to grow, meaning you could enjoy a better quality of life in your later years.
You may want to keep this in mind when you are at the height of your earning potential, even if your second retirement feels a long way off.
Get in touch
We will work with you to create a budget, allowing you to enjoy your wealth today while also building financial security beyond rugby and creating a healthy pension pot.
Email enquiries@dbl-am.com or call 01625 529499 to speak to us today.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
Please do not act based on anything you might read in this article. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC legislation, which is subject to change.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate tax planning or buy-to-let (pure) and commercial mortgages.
A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances. Thresholds, percentage rates, and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts.
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.