Meyer’s Stade Francais boast massive player budget

Cape Town - French club Stade Francais, who are coached by former Springbok mentor Heyneke Meyer, have the biggest player budget ahead of the 2018/19 Top 14.

The Parisian club, who is owned by German billionaire Hans-Peter Wild, has a budget of €34 million (R566 million), up from €30.16 million last season when they were ranked third in this regard.

Clermont, who had last season’s biggest budget of €31.55 million, dropped to second on the list this season despite their budget increasing to €32.5 million.

Last season’s Top 14 champions, Castres, are only 10th on the list with €23.7 million.

Top 14 rich-list:

1. Stade Français €34 million
2. Clermont €32.5 million
3. Toulouse €32 million
4. Toulon €30 million
5. Lyon €29.8 million
6. Montpellier €27 million
7. La Rochelle €25.6 million
8. Pau €25 million
9. Racing €24 million
10. Castres €23.7 million
11. Bordeaux-Begles €23 million
12. Grenoble €18 million
13. Perpignan €16 million
14. Agen €13.8 million

Le Stade Français , plus gros budget du #Top14.
ça en fait de la briquette de Capri Sun ?? #SFP pic.twitter.com/vwpeBpdjA1

— Adam Roussy (@AdamRoussy) August 21, 2018