Rugby ace Joe Marler left stunned as ex-footballer and Soccer AM star Jimmy Bullard reveals his biggest wage of career

RUGBY star Joe Marler was left gobsmacked when he found out how much Jimmy Bullard was earning in his heyday as a Premier League footballer.

Two of the UK's most popular sports, rugby and football, have got drastically differing wages.

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Marler, who retired from international rugby this month, has played for one of rugby union's top teams, Harlequins, for his entire career.

But despite always being at the top of his sport, he was shocked to learn how much mid-table journeyman Jimmy Bullard was pocketing as a Premier League footballer.

Bullard, 46, spent his career playing for the likes of Hull City, Fulham and Wigan Athletic.

But when asked by Marler how much he was earning in his heyday, Bullard revealed a stunning number.

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Speaking on Marler's Things People Do podcast, he said: "My biggest contract was £50k-a-week".

Marler was in disbelief at the hefty salary, that would have meant Bullard was earning £2.6MILLION per year.

Bullard was asked to give an estimate on what kind of money a "top Premier League footballer" would be earning these days, with the former midfielder retiring in 2012.

He said: "I'd have to say a few of the Man City boys must be on £350k a week".

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Jimmy Bullard's career

A brief look at Jimmy Bullard's playing career...

1998 - 1999: Ebbsfleet

1999 - 2001: West Ham

2001 - 2003: Peterborough

2003 - 2006: Wigan Athletic

2006 - 2009: Fulham

2009 - 2011: Hull City

2011 - 2012: Ipswich Town

2012: MK Dons

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Football salary site Capology claims that Man City duo Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland are the Prem's two top earners.

It's said that De Bruyne is pocketing a whopping £400,000-per-week, while Haaland makes £375,000 every week himself.

By comparison, previous England captain Owen Farrell is the current highest-paid rugby union player in the world.

Farrell is understood to be earning £1.2MILLION-per-year at Racing 92, the equivalent of £23,077-a-week.

That means Kevin De Bruyne earns Farrell's annual salary every 21 DAYS.

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