How much is a top Bok worth?

A Springbok rugby player's market value has been set at R1,8-million a year.

The fight between SA Rugby and the South African Rugby Players' Association (Sarpa) on Thursday will be about how best to ensure the top players earn that salary.

SA Rugby wants the bulk of the wages to be paid via match fees and win incentives, with no option of a national retainer.

Ideally, SA Rugby does not want to contract any player, but reward those selected on a test-by-test basis.

Sarpa chairperson Rob van der Valk says it is unrealistic to expect the players to agree to this arrangement, because the risk is the player's and not the employer's.

Van der Valk said a deal had been reached on what to pay the Boks.

"That was an important step and SA Rugby agrees that the R1,8-million annual earning capacity is competitive with international trends. We looked at all the major nations and factored in cost of living," he said.

"If we can guarantee our top Springboks that annual income, they won't go overseas and it will put them on par with the best-paid earners in the game.

"Where we have not reached an agreement is on the guarantee. SA Rugby, in their proposed payment structuring, are not offering any guarantees. The player wants the comfort of a guarantee and that has to be finalised tomorrow."

At present a Bok will receive about R750 000 a year from his province. SA Rugby has to make up the extra R1-million.

For the player to earn the R1-million in match fees and win bonus, he would have to play in 80 percent of the season's Tests and the team would have to be successful in 80 percent of the matches.

Sarpa says this is unrealistic, given the high turnover of Springbok players in recent years and a success rate that averages 50% since 1999.

Given the Boks' international schedule in 2004 and 2005, a winning return of 60 percent would be exceeding expectations. This is in keeping with the Boks' all-time test record of 61 percent.

Several players, believed to be disgruntled Bulls stars, have spoken about going overseas if SA Rugby and Sarpa cannot agree to terms.

Van der Valk said the restructuring of a new contract format was some way off an agreement, but insisted the players had a good attitude.

"There are no threats and they are not being difficult," he said.

How our stars' pay compares:

- New Zealand

For Super 12 games, a player earns between NZ$60 000 and NZ$75 000.

The All Blacks get a salary ranging from NZ$200 000 to NZ$400 000, with a captain earning an extra NZ$100 000.

At last year's World Cup, All Blacks were said to have earned NZ$80 000 each for all the matches played.

- England

Internationals earn between £120 000 and £200 000 a year in club contracts. They earn £6 500 per test, regardless of the result.

- Australia

Players are contracted by their state and Wallabies get a top-up from the ARU, with match fees of A$10 000. International players earn between A$350 000 and A$600 000 a year.

- France

Players are contracted by clubs, with the French Rugby Union paying them only for time spent with the national team. The average club wage is €4 000 a month, with an international earning between €15 000 and €30 000 a month.

- South Africa's leading players last year, who each earned more than R1,8-million, were Corné Krige and Joost van der Westhuizen. All members of the World Cup squad earned more than R1-million each in 2003.