The Brave Blossoms are mostly amateur players.GETTY IMAGES
Japan’s test rugby amateurs are being paid just 2,000 yen ($17.54) per day, their coach, Jamie Joseph, said ahead of his side’s clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday, according to Jonathan White of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. The Brave Blossoms’ tour allowance "pales in comparison to their opponents," who will each earn a reported £25,000 ($32,000) for the match. The 2019 Rugby World Cup hosts "are largely made up of amateur players, with the professionals even going unpaid for representing the country." Joseph, a former All Black, said, "Our guys here are amateur, they are employees of companies and are getting 2,000 yen a day. And the foreigners we have in our team don’t get paid for playing for Japan. So we have got different motivators for this game." In contrast, England’s Rugby Football Union pays its test players "the highest appearance fees in the sport." England players previously earned between $22,000 and $28,000, with bonuses paid on top. The fees for players "vary wildly between the respective unions," with Georgia paying around $800 per test and Wales "in the region of" $6,500 (SCMP, 11/13).
