The Springboks are currently the top team in world rugby, dominating with back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories and consecutive British & Irish Lions Series wins. Their impressive 2024 season included a return to the top of the World Rugby rankings after winning prestigious trophies such as the Nelson Mandela Plate, Freedom Cup, and Rugby Championship. They also capped off the year with an unbeaten end-of-year tour of the UK.
Given their success, you might be wondering how much the Springbok players earn for each test match.
Springbok Match-Day Salaries Revealed
Thanks to their success at the pinnacle of world rugby, each Springbok player earns an impressive R118,197.93 per match, according to the latest figures shared by Cash N Sport on Twitter. This figure does not include additional match bonuses for winning trophies like the Nelson Mandela Plate or Rugby World Cup, which can significantly boost their earnings.
This salary is fully covered by the South African Rugby Union (SARU), ensuring the players are well-compensated. Even non-playing squad members earn a handsome R59,539 per week, as reported by SARugbyMag.
How Much Do SA Rugby Players Earn in 2024?
Here’s a breakdown of how much Springboks and other South African rugby players make in 2024, and the anticipated figures for 2025-2027:
- Springbok match-day squad: R118,197.93 per match (fully funded)
- Springbok non-playing squad: R59,539 per week / R8,505.57 per day (fully funded)
- Springbok training squad (released to province): R8,505.57 per day (fully funded)
- PONI (Players of National Interest) minimum salary: R11,985 per month (partially funded via pool)
- Semi-professional player minimum salary: R6,790 per month (not specified)
- Development player minimum salary: No set minimum
- Springbok Sevens minimum annual retainer: R353,062 per year
- Sevens tournament win bonus: R6,175 – R37,055 per player
- Domestic franchise player minimum salary (URC/Europe): R39,575 per month (not specified)
- Currie Cup First Division match fee: R2,268 per match (not specified)
- Currie Cup Premier Division match fee: R3,394 per match (not specified)
While SA Rugby remains open to investments, the national team players continue to be well-supported by SARU, ensuring their financial stability as they represent South Africa on the global stage.
