Scotland might not be among the favourites to win the Six Nations this season, but they can at least boast of being top of one table. Gregor Townsend’s side opened their campaign with a home game against Italy on Saturday, and are now braced for the visit of Ireland in seven days’ time.
The Scots have not finished top of the standings since 1999, the last time the tournament contained only five teams, with the Italians added the following year.
And despite undoubted progress under Townsend and three wins from four in their Autumn International campaign, the loss of centre Sione Tuipulotu to long-term injury has been considered a hammer blow to their hopes of challenging this time around.
However, they do boast one of the hottest properties in world rugby in their ranks. Captain Finn Russell has long been considered one of the most exciting and attack-minded outside halves on the planet and will again lead his country at Murrayfield.
And it’s through their skipper that Scotland can claim to have the best-paid player in the tournament. The talisman moved to Bath from Racing 92 after the 2023 World Cup, since commanding a salary of over £1million-a-year.
His club bosses can argue the investment was worth it, after the No.10 scored 16 points against Sale Sharks to inspire them to a first Premiership Final appearance. That’s despite the West Country club then going down 25-21 to Northampton Saints at Twickenham.
The 32-year-old is also an iconic figure on the international stage, with 82 caps and 409 points to his name. He’s also twice toured with the Lions, although injury on the 2021 trip to South Africa confined him to just one test appearance.
After Russell, who came through the professional ranks at Glasgow, is another international captain in Maro Itoje. The Saracens second row has won an impressive five Premiership crowns and three European titles with the English club, earning him an annual wage of £800,000.
French No.9 Antoine Dupont, back in 15-a-side action after his sevens sabbatical in the summer as he helped the host nation to Olympic gold, follows Itoje. He makes around £700,000-per-year at club side Toulouse, having already cemented a legacy of one of his country’s all-time greats.
However, all three stars trail in the wake of one of Itoje’s predecessors. Owen Farrell switched to Racing 92 this season for a deal worth £1.2million-a-year, making him the highest-paid player in world rugby, with Russell second.
But the former England skipper is not eligible to participate in the Six Nations this season because of his move to France. He was also absent from the tournament in 2024 after opting to take a break from the sport for personal reasons.
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