Pollock signs new Northampton deal in excess of £400K

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Henry Pollock came through the academy at Northampton, initially joining up with the club aged 13

ByMike Henson, BBC Sport rugby union news reporter and Graham McKechnie, BBC Northampton sports editor

Published8 minutes ago

Henry Pollock has brought an end to his contract stand-off with Northampton, saying it was ultimately "a very easy decision" to sign an extension with the defending Prem champions.

"I am very, very happy to sign here," Pollock told BBC Radio Northampton.

"I have been here my whole career so it made sense for me to stay on the journey with such a young group of players, who are so ambitious.

"It was a very easy decision in the end."

The 21-year-old, whose profile has exploded over the past two seasons after appearing for England and the British and Irish Lions, had been talked up as a "seven-figure player" during negotiations by his advisor Eddie Hearn.

However, the boxing promoter's valuation was never likely to be met at Northampton or elsewhere in the Prem, given Saints' star-studded line-up, the league's £6.4m squad salary cap and rules over players moving between clubs.

The exact level of Pollock's pay increase is unclear. While some sources have valued his new contract at £400,000 a year, others involved in the deal say the figure is higher.

It is certainly short of Scotland playmaker Finn Russell, who, as Bath's marquee player, is on the league's most lucrative package, worth about £1m a year.

Pollock's pay puts him well ahead of most of his contemporaries in the Prem however.

His new deal is comfortably ahead of the average annual salary in the league (£191,000), the average earned by someone in his 20-22 age bracket (£106,000) and with his level of international experience (£224,000), as revealed by the latest league payroll data, covering the 2024-25 campaign., external

Only 4% of Prem players that season were paid in excess of £400,000 a year.

Pollock's previous contract, signed in December 2024, is understood to have been worth about £150,000.

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Pollock was part of a Saints team that beat Georgian club side Black Lion 93-10 in a pre-season friendly on Friday

"I don't create it, my team do," said Pollock of the speculation that has surrounded his future over the past seven weeks.

"It is one of those things that you have to take in your stride, but I am happy it is all done and I can focus on the rugby."

Asked about the possibility of Saints becoming the first side since Saracens in 2019 to successfully defend their English title, Pollock was bullish.

"We have the squad depth and the belief in this group that we can do it," he said.

"Let's see, hopefully we can create some magic along the way. Let's write a new story."

Pollock, who was instrumental in Northampton's run to the title last season, insisted last week that he was still open to offers, raising the possibility of a move abroad or even to another sport.

However, remaining at Northampton, for whom he made his league debut in November 2023, always seemed the most likely option.

After winning an age-grade world title with England's under-20s at the end of that season, Pollock returned to Franklin's Gardens and established himself as a first-team regular.

His pace, energy and on-pitch persona propelled him into the public consciousness and into contention for international honours.

He made his Test debut off the bench against Wales, scoring two tries, in March 2025 and was a bolter pick for the Lions squad only two months later.

His try-scoring feats through Saints' run to the Champions Cup final, complete with pre-planned celebrations, earned him a spot on the eight-strong shortlist for the continental competition's player of the year.

He has appeared in each of England's past 12 Tests, albeit with his only start coming in a 42-21 defeat by Ireland in February.