Henry Pollock Leaves Door Open to Overseas Moves as Northampton Contract Talks Stall

Henry Pollock is playing hardball in his contract negotiations with Northampton Saints, insisting he remains open to offers from abroad and is determined to be “quite selfish” when it comes to shaping his future.

The 21-year-old England back row forward’s current deal, reportedly worth around £150,000 per year, runs out at the conclusion of the upcoming season.

Pollock added boxing promoter Eddie Hearn to his advisory team earlier this year, and Hearn reportedly raised the stakes by describing his new client as “a seven-figure player” whose current salary astonished him.

“Northampton’s been so great to me — I’ve been here my whole career and they’ve made me who I am. For me to stay would be so special,” Pollock said.

“Obviously, I know it’s not as simple as that, and I know there are lots of moving parts that come into play. I’m very open to new opportunities and very open to exploring them.

“I’m so young, so I think it’s only right that I assess those options and find the best decision for myself.”

He added: “Your career is so short that you look back and almost regret not exploring new avenues, not exploring different things.

“I think for me, you almost have to be quite selfish in that regard — think about what’s right for you. If that means staying here, then great, I’ll be here for however long. If it doesn’t, then I’ll be open to new opportunities.”

Salary cap regulations, which prevent players transferring between Premiership clubs from being classified as ‘marquee’ players exempt from the £6.4m squad cap, make a lucrative move to one of Saints’ domestic rivals challenging.

A transfer to a club in France or Japan could prove financially rewarding for Pollock, and a deal beginning at the start of the 2027-28 season would not necessarily rule him out of England’s Rugby World Cup squad next autumn.

However, he would become ineligible for England selection once he begins playing overseas and would forfeit the central contract — worth approximately £150,000 a year — that currently supplements his club earnings.

His off-pitch income, which includes personal endorsement deals with various clothing brands, could also take a hit away from the visibility afforded by international fixtures and domestic rugby.

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