Here’s How Much On Average A British & Irish Lion Earns In Comparison To An All Black

The Lions may be underdogs against New Zealand this summer, but they’re laughing all the way to the bank.

Esportif Intelligence have compared some new data using Warren Gatland’s selection on Wednesday and New Zealand’s November 2016 touring squad, and has revealed that the northern hemisphere based players are worth a whopping €1.8 million more in total per year.

This means, on average, a Lion is earning €44,000 more a year than his All Black counterpart. Gatland’s 41-man squad are earning an average of €346,000 per year, while Steve Hansen’s All Blacks earn just €302,000 per annum in comparison.

Sonny Bill Williams, Charlie Ngatai, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Nepo Laulala didn’t travel to Europe last year due to injury but have been included in the study for comparative purposes.

British & Irish Lions: Players — 41
New Zealand: Players — 41

British & Irish Lions: Total number of caps — 1,867, 46 average
NZ: Total number of caps — 1,244, 30 average

British & Irish Lions: Basic salary — £11.9 million (€14.2 million), €346,000 average
NZ: Basic salary — £10.4 million (€12.4 million), €302,000 average

British and Irish Lions squad 2017

Backs: Dan Biggar (Wales), Elliot Daly (England), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Jonathan Joseph (England), Conor Murray (Ireland), George North (Wales), Jack Nowell (England), Jared Payne (Ireland), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Tommy Seymour (Scotland), Ben Te’o (England), Anthony Watson (England), Rhys Webb (Wales), Liam Williams (Wales), Ben Youngs (England).

Forwards: Rory Best (Ireland), Dan Cole (England), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Jamie George (England), Iain Henderson (Ireland), Maro Itoje (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), George Kruis (England), Courtney Lawes (England), Joe Marler (England), Jack McGrath (Ireland), Ross Moriarty (Wales), Sean O’Brien (Ireland), Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), Ken Owens (Wales), Kyle Sinckler (England), CJ Stander (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Mako Vunipola (England), Billy Vunipola (England), Sam Warburton (Wales, captain).

New Zealand squad November 2016

Forwards: Scott Barrett, Sam Cane, Dane Coles, Liam Coltman, Wyatt Crockett, Elliot Dixon, Charlie Faumuina, Owen Franks, Jerome Kaino, Nepo Laulala, Steven Luatua, Joe Moody, Kieran Read (captain), Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Codie Taylor, Matt Todd, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Sam Whitelock.

Backs: Beauden Barrett, Ryan Crotty, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Malakai Fekitoa, Rieko Ioane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie, Nehe Milner-Skudder, George Moala, Charlie Ngatai, Waisake Naholo, TJ Perenara, Julian Savea, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Sonny Bill Williams.

The42.ie