SAM WARBURTON’S AGENT has revealed his client was offered €850,000 a year by Toulon and Stade Francais before he eventually decided to remain in Wales.
The Wales and Lions captain signed a central contract — the first of its kind — with the Welsh Rugby Union yesterday and is set to be released, free of charge, to his Cardiff Blues club next season. The flanker’s agent, Derwyn Jones, today spoke about the ground-breaking deal.
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Jones told Wales Online that his client was subjected to ‘uninformed vitriol’ on social media sites but his intention was always to remain in Wales. While not releasing an official annual salary figure for Warburton’s services, Jones said his new deal is a lot less than the money that was on offer from Top 14 clubs.
Jones said Warburton had turned down €850k to sign for Stade, who are currently leading the Top 14. Toulon then approached the Welshman with a similar offer after openside Sean O’Brien decided to sign on with Leinster and Ireland until 2016. O’Brien started the Lions’ third Test against Australia after Warburton was ruled out with injury.
Jones commented, “Sam was faced with the following two options regarding his playing future. Pursue interest from two teams in the Top 14 at twice his [UK] market value or sign a three-year employment contract with the WRU to stay in Wales at his market value.”
Due to the ongoing state of flux in Welsh rugby, Jones added, “At this time however, due to the current fallout between the regions and the WRU, there are no cast iron guarantees that Sam will be able play for Cardiff next season.”
Cardiff are frontrunners to get Warburton back in blue next season but their case to retain his playing services may not have been helped by comments made by their chairman, Peter Thomas, in The Rugby Paper. Thomas said, “The product we have in the Pro12 is not selling. To be blunt, we don’t have a product. We are in the wrong competition.
The WRU are not making any decisions. With them it’s all about control. They don’t look at the bigger picture. They couldn’t run a corner shop.”
Toulon were successful in signing up Warburton’s club and international teammate Leigh Halfpenny for €600k a year. The reigning Heineken Cup champions have also signed up Wallaby captain Ben Mowen for next season.
Toulon make me sick. Everything that rugby stands for and is good about rugby,the are the opposite of. So happy they didn’t get Heaslip and especially O’Brien. Here’s looking forward to Leinster showing them in April that success can’t be bought every year.
The likes of Toulon, Clermont and Racing are an embarrassment to French rugby! Yes, fantastic teams but all about the money, because of this the French team has started to suffer (wooden spoon winners 2013 if you will!). For such a proud nation drenched in natural talent it’s a shame! Youth development and tradition mean nothing to these teams and their fat cat owners! If I was a Toulon supporter I’d be very worried of the Leinster match in the heino, a team that has caught the imagination of spectators around the world plus national identity at the core of their success! Oh, and Munster too, before I get red thumbed out of it!
Toulon are the soccer’isation’ of rugby union. A trend to be avoided like the plague.
Thank you Warburton, O’Brien, Heaslip et al for keeping it sane. More of this please.
its not the “soccerisation” of rugby is the globalization of rugby and the money that comes with it,nothing to do with soccer its a victim of the same disease !! dont know why some rugby fans have to have a dig at soccer in relation to rugby every time,alsp a terrible attempt at coining a word !! and as for the english soccer team nearly every one of them play champions league football,not that it does them much good :-p
This is it exactly. All sport has been taken over by the big corporations, whether it is Nike, sky, Heineken. The rules of the games have been changed to accommodate more ‘excitng’ play. The gear, the coverage, the wages are all subject to the same forces. It is ridiculous to isolate rugby as if it is somehow different. Every last player in this system is working it to their own economic advantage. And the system is working them to its advantage
We wanted professionalism, the Hcup and so on… in order to achieve this we needed private investors. Those who still want the Hcup etc but dont agree with this craziness are delusional
toulon dnt catch everyones imagination im from nz an every player at toulon are retired from super15 or there because they were spoilt brats oconnor matt or past there prime which makes heinekin cuo a joke really
That’s jaw-dropping salary,iv even more respect for big SAM declining that & pledging his allegiance to WRFU!
French teams are destroying it with this toxic greed,this trend continues players will have zero loyalty to club province ,I just hope this turn out like “soccer”
Two sides here everyone. I know it wont be a popular point but players can have a very short career. If they want to make as much as possible who are we to judge?
I dont blame the players at all,I blame the club. And it’s owner. And the FFR for not sanctioning this and limiting outside players or putting a cap in place.
cant blame anyone for wanting more but on the other hand its not like the choice is between the dole or hundreds oif thousands a year,so the whole have to make enough to live on when i stop playing reason is pretty thin !!
850k, 950k this is getting ridiculous !
Sexton joined up at the beginning of this year at 500k a year and he was earning the second most in the competition.
Now theyr almost doubling it, it’s scary how much money they have.
Glad most of our lads contracts ran out this year otherwise if all these negotiations were happing in a years time, I don’t know if our lads could turn some of these offers down.
The IRB should insist on a global cap on players’ salaries. Otherwise rugby will end up like soccer and be dominated by a small number of very wealthy clubs.
It seems that no one can tell the truth about these contracts. They are taking mythical status now. If Warburton was offered 850k pa he would be in France next season. Ditto Sean o Brien. Everyone knows that Jonnie Wilkinson is the highest paid player in Toulon and top14 and he is on 550k. When halfpenny signed last week it was reported to be 395k sterling pa. This week its reported as being 600k. Pie in the sky stuff. To quote Nigel Owens ” this is not soccer” unfortunately some are determined to make it so.
If you wish a salary cup and a very tight control you shouldnt wish for the Hcup or professionalism in rugby. Those are the consequences of this madness
I think that whatever agents for players say has to be taken with a large pinch of salt. They have a vested interest in talking up players’ salaries. Rugby as we know and love it will be destroyed if the French clubs continue this escalation of players’ salaries. Rugby will end up like soccer where all the best players are bought up by a small number of wealthy clubs, less wealthy clubs will only exist as opponents or cannon fodder to be beaten in all major competitions, results will become decided by money and become predictable and international club competitions will become more important than tournaments such as the Six Nations.
We need to bear in mind that throughout the amateur era, it was widely believed that many French clubs were paying players. That is one of the reasons why rugby league never succeeded in France. I think the FFR must be concerned about the high salaries being paid by the French clubs because the huge influx of foreign players will mean that Top 14 French club rugby will become like the English soccer Premiership – dominated by a few rich clubs, employing large number of foreign players on large salaries leading to high ticket prices and the failure to give French players the opportunity to play Top 14 rugby in their own country and develop the skills and experience needed by the French national team.
Why are footballers’ pay calculated on a weekly basis, while rugby players’ pay is annual? Is it the amount? Or because working class people get the weekly wage while (some) professionals get salaries?
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Toulon make me sick. Everything that rugby stands for and is good about rugby,the are the opposite of. So happy they didn’t get Heaslip and especially O’Brien. Here’s looking forward to Leinster showing them in April that success can’t be bought every year.
You hated having dougie howlet & isa nacewa play in ireland then i take it?
Two or three players a team? There’s a massive difference. Surely you are clever enough to realise that?
Well said and nice reply.
The likes of Toulon, Clermont and Racing are an embarrassment to French rugby! Yes, fantastic teams but all about the money, because of this the French team has started to suffer (wooden spoon winners 2013 if you will!). For such a proud nation drenched in natural talent it’s a shame! Youth development and tradition mean nothing to these teams and their fat cat owners! If I was a Toulon supporter I’d be very worried of the Leinster match in the heino, a team that has caught the imagination of spectators around the world plus national identity at the core of their success! Oh, and Munster too, before I get red thumbed out of it!
Toulon are the soccer’isation’ of rugby union. A trend to be avoided like the plague.
Thank you Warburton, O’Brien, Heaslip et al for keeping it sane. More of this please.
Yes, just look at the England football team. How many of them play regular champions league football????
Where they on 900 k a year doubtful that’s not what he is saying read the comment
its not the “soccerisation” of rugby is the globalization of rugby and the money that comes with it,nothing to do with soccer its a victim of the same disease !! dont know why some rugby fans have to have a dig at soccer in relation to rugby every time,alsp a terrible attempt at coining a word !! and as for the english soccer team nearly every one of them play champions league football,not that it does them much good :-p
This is it exactly. All sport has been taken over by the big corporations, whether it is Nike, sky, Heineken. The rules of the games have been changed to accommodate more ‘excitng’ play. The gear, the coverage, the wages are all subject to the same forces. It is ridiculous to isolate rugby as if it is somehow different. Every last player in this system is working it to their own economic advantage. And the system is working them to its advantage
When a sport becomes professional what it stands for is money. End of story.
We wanted professionalism, the Hcup and so on… in order to achieve this we needed private investors. Those who still want the Hcup etc but dont agree with this craziness are delusional
Cermont shouldnt be on ur list. They still have a very good youth academy
There is a difference but the principle is the same, whether you like it or not.
toulon dnt catch everyones imagination im from nz an every player at toulon are retired from super15 or there because they were spoilt brats oconnor matt or past there prime which makes heinekin cuo a joke really
Fair play, takes serious loyalty to turn down an offer like that.
I don’t believe it. Publicity stunt to big up Wales rugby and the central contract…
That’s jaw-dropping salary,iv even more respect for big SAM declining that & pledging his allegiance to WRFU!
French teams are destroying it with this toxic greed,this trend continues players will have zero loyalty to club province ,I just hope this turn out like “soccer”
Two sides here everyone. I know it wont be a popular point but players can have a very short career. If they want to make as much as possible who are we to judge?
I dont blame the players at all,I blame the club. And it’s owner. And the FFR for not sanctioning this and limiting outside players or putting a cap in place.
cant blame anyone for wanting more but on the other hand its not like the choice is between the dole or hundreds oif thousands a year,so the whole have to make enough to live on when i stop playing reason is pretty thin !!
Leigh Halfpenny isn’t being paid €900k a year! Where do you get this rubbish?
Contract is £395k a year, around €470k.
Still a fortune, but far less than you’re reporting.
Yep Tomás, it’s €1.8m over three seasons.
850k, 950k this is getting ridiculous !
Sexton joined up at the beginning of this year at 500k a year and he was earning the second most in the competition.
Now theyr almost doubling it, it’s scary how much money they have.
Glad most of our lads contracts ran out this year otherwise if all these negotiations were happing in a years time, I don’t know if our lads could turn some of these offers down.
The IRB should insist on a global cap on players’ salaries. Otherwise rugby will end up like soccer and be dominated by a small number of very wealthy clubs.
It seems that no one can tell the truth about these contracts. They are taking mythical status now. If Warburton was offered 850k pa he would be in France next season. Ditto Sean o Brien. Everyone knows that Jonnie Wilkinson is the highest paid player in Toulon and top14 and he is on 550k. When halfpenny signed last week it was reported to be 395k sterling pa. This week its reported as being 600k. Pie in the sky stuff. To quote Nigel Owens ” this is not soccer” unfortunately some are determined to make it so.
If you wish a salary cup and a very tight control you shouldnt wish for the Hcup or professionalism in rugby. Those are the consequences of this madness
Looks like Warburtons giving that trophy a prostate exam and O’Brien is going for an old fashioned tug!
Delighted.
“Doesn’t”
A good news story involving sports stars and big money moves. Thank you rugby
I think that whatever agents for players say has to be taken with a large pinch of salt. They have a vested interest in talking up players’ salaries. Rugby as we know and love it will be destroyed if the French clubs continue this escalation of players’ salaries. Rugby will end up like soccer where all the best players are bought up by a small number of wealthy clubs, less wealthy clubs will only exist as opponents or cannon fodder to be beaten in all major competitions, results will become decided by money and become predictable and international club competitions will become more important than tournaments such as the Six Nations.
Imagine the comments if a CEO was offered 850k? The hypocrisy of some people knows no bounds.
We need to bear in mind that throughout the amateur era, it was widely believed that many French clubs were paying players. That is one of the reasons why rugby league never succeeded in France. I think the FFR must be concerned about the high salaries being paid by the French clubs because the huge influx of foreign players will mean that Top 14 French club rugby will become like the English soccer Premiership – dominated by a few rich clubs, employing large number of foreign players on large salaries leading to high ticket prices and the failure to give French players the opportunity to play Top 14 rugby in their own country and develop the skills and experience needed by the French national team.
Be that as it may, is not relevant to my comment.
Talking complete and utter pipe Tim !
Why are footballers’ pay calculated on a weekly basis, while rugby players’ pay is annual? Is it the amount? Or because working class people get the weekly wage while (some) professionals get salaries?
If he had balls he’d have gone.
Absolute fool
Wayne Rooney 300k per week. Sam Warburton 10k per week. Which would you choose?
if Warburton is offered 850k a season then keiran read an the all blacks players wud get offered 2mil a season