Etzebeth to become the highest paid Bok in history
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Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth is set to become the highest paid Springbok in history when he joins Toulon following the Rugby World Cup in Japan next year.
Etzebeth's move to the South of France was confirmed yesterday with the former Springbok captain signing a two-year deal that will reportedly see him earn upwards of €1m (R17m) per season.
That would rank the 75-Test Bok lock among the five highest-paid players in the world, including Israel Folau (estimated €1.4m), Dan Carter and Matt Giteau (both €1.1m), and Charles Piutau (€1m).
In 2017, the average South African Super Rugby player earned R1m, with Beast Mtawarira at the top of the pile on R3.8m (about €235 000)
Etzebeth’s contract would shatter the reported R22m (€135 500) two-year deal that convinced Jaque Fourie to pull out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup and return to Japan.