Rugby
1News

Beauden Barrett offered huge $2.6m-a-year deal by French club after 2019 RWC - report

September 14, 2018

The star first five helped out his teammates at this morning's training.

All Blacks superstar Beauden Barrett has reportedly been offered a massive deal by a French rugby club that would make him the highest-paid player in rugby's history.

French newspaper L'Equipe reports the first-five has been offered a salary of €1.5million (NZ$2.6m) a year by French Top 14 club Lyon after the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

The report says the offer was so grand that Barrett was forced to "postpone" looking at it rather than dismiss it completely.

L'Equipe also reported offers have been sent by Stade Francais, Montpellier and Racing 92 to acquire the services of the Kiwi star.

The 27-year-old has earned 66 Test caps for the All Blacks and his current deal with NZR ends after the 2019 season.

Barrett carried the bottles for the team against the Pumas and said he learned from the experience.

Other All Blacks reportedly on French clubs' radars include Sonny Bill Williams, Ardie Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder with the likes of Wallabies stars Israel Folau and David Pocock also being approached.

The report comes after former All Black first-five Lima Sopoaga said earlier this week the world champions could see more young talent leave New Zealand to take up big paychecks in Europe.

"Things are starting to change and players are starting to wise up," Sopoaga told The Guardian .

"They realise that it's a business these days. A lot of us are starting to talk to each other more and talk about experiences and about how we can benefit from the game because it is a business and it can be pretty cut-throat at times.

"For a lot of guys like myself, who come from big families, from low socio-economic backgrounds the chance to change your family's life is pretty overwhelming.

"It's not something you should take lightly and sometimes the jersey is not enough for a better life."

SHARE ME

More Stories