Ok, I did this myself.

We copied the rich:upload component from richfaces, and encapsulated into our own component.

I then changed the javascript file as follows:

  startUploading: function() {

            this.state.css("display", "block");

            this.addButton.style.display = 'none';

            this.feedback.style.display = '';

            this.link.html("");

            this.input.attr("name", this.fileUpload.id);

            this.model.state = ITEM_STATE.UPLOADING;

           this.feedback=document.getElementById("feedback");

            this.feedback.html(ITEM_STATE.UPLOADING);

            this.uid = Math.random();

            this.fileUpload.__submit();

            if (this.fileUpload.progressBar) {

               this.fileUpload.progressBar.setValue(0);

                this.feedback.html(this.fileUpload.progressBarElement.detach());

                var params = {};

                params[UID_ALT] = this.uid;

                this.fileUpload.progressBar.enable(params);

            }

        },

But I need the progress bar to appear on the same place of the button, or at the right side.