Manu Tuilagi signs deal to make him one of the richest players in the world

This is an obscene amount of money.

Dan Carter begins his France sojourn this weekend with Racing Metro as the world's most highly paid rugby player. The former All-Black is in line to scoop about €1.4 million per year he's in Paris. But an English player could be closing in on that figure, after inking an eye-watering deal to make him one of the richest richest rugby players in Ireland or Britain. Manu Tuilagi has reportedly signed a three-year deal with Leicester Tigers that will see him earn £425,000 per annum. The deal would see the England man earn slightly less than what Johnny Sexton takes home each year which is believed to be in excess of €650K. The deal will mean an end to any possible flirtations with French clubs, while it may put some Irish players on alert as to their own worth. Tuilagi missed the World Cup after he was convicted of assaulting two police officers earlier this year, but is currently sidelined due to injury. With JJ Hanrahan already playing in England and Ian Madigan believed to be unsettled at Leinster, the deal shows that English clubs are willing to pay big for the biggest talent. Irish provinces have been warned.