Pays to play until the final whistle

I WAS reading a recent article which insists that hooker, to the surprise of some, is the worst paid position in both the Top 14 and PRO14 and the second worst in the Gallagher Premiership. Top dogs across all three leagues are the second rows and fly-halves.

It appears counter intuitive. Hooker seems such an important position.

Scrum duties, lineout throwing, supplementary back row manoeuvres and guiding the rolling mauls to their inevitable try scoring conclusion... but actually it’s probably just ruthless market forces at work.

When was the last time you saw Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones, Jonny Gray or James Ryan come off a rugby pitch for anything other than serious injury? Ditto Owen Farrell, Finn Russell, Dan Biggar or Exeter Chiefs skipper Joe Simmonds? Meanwhile with the exception of Jamie George, who likes to go the full distance, when was the last time you saw a hooker play beyond 55 minutes?

Don’t go thinking the bean counters haven’t clocked this!