Aviva Premiership

John Afoa set to earn $NZ1 million per year

ESPN Staff

Former All Blacks prop John Afoa is set to become the highest-paid player in the Aviva Preniership, with New Zealand's Sunday Star-Times reporting that he will join Gloucester on a staggering four-year deal worth $NZ4 million.

The New Zealand newspaper reported that Esportif management had put together a contract worth $NZ1 million (£508,000) per season, a deal that would make the Rugby World Cup 2011 winner the third-highest earner in Europe - behind only Jonny Wilkinson ($NZ1,118,220) and Jonny Sexton ($NZ1,039,104), and above South Africa wing Bryan Habana ($NZ998,412), France halfback Morgan Para ($NZ918,540) and fellow former All Blacks prop Carl Hayman ($NZ818,700).

Afoa is understood to have been contemplating a move home to the Blues, but the Sunday Star-Times reported that the Auckland team could offer only $NZ180,000 per year. The newspaper reported that Gloucester fought off at least nine French Top 14 clubs, including Toulon, Toulouse and Racing Metro, to secure his services.

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