England's rugby players will look a lot happier if they win the World Cup.

England players have had a large financial carrot dangled in front of them ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

The home side's players have been offered a performance bonus of just over £100,000 (NZ$215,000) each if they win the title, according to the Daily Mail.

The newspaper believes the financial incentive is more than six times greater than the £16,000 reward on offer for winning this year's Six Nations tournament, which they missed out on in dramatic circumstances as Ireland triumphed.

On top of any performance-related rewards, players are also guaranteed a £15,000 lump sum — including match fees, training fees and image rights — every time they are named in a matchday 23, the story said.

England, who lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in 2003, open the tournament against Fiji at Twickenham on September 18.