Henry Pollock signs Northampton Saints contract extension to end speculation over future

Henry Pollock has signed a bumper contract extension with Northampton Saints worth more than £400,000 a year to continue his stay with the Prem champions and end the speculation over his future.

The 21-year-old, who has won 13 England caps, was out of contract next summer, with his advisor Eddie Hearn publicly seeking a significant pay rise from his previous deal of £150,000 to remain at the Saints.

Pollock signed with Hearn’s Matchroom agency in March, with the boxing promoter talking up the back-row forward as a “seven-figure player” and worth £1m a year, although Hearn was not involved in the contract negotiations.

Northampton were always confident of keeping Pollock, despite the noise surrounding his future, and confirmed that a “multi-year” extension had been reached ahead of the start of the new Prem season on Friday.

“I’m massively happy to re-sign with Saints, my boyhood club,” Pollock said. “It’s an exciting place to be right now. We’re in a great spot as a team, but it feels like there’s still so much more growth in us.

“I’m still young, and we’ve got a young squad with a brilliant group of lads. Some of my best mates are here, and every day everyone pushes each other to improve and be the best players and team we can be. For where I am in my career, this is exactly where I want to be.”

Pollock started his career with Northampton, making his debut as a 17-year-old schoolboy in 2022, but said during contract negotiations that he was “open to every opportunity” and hinted that he hopes to play abroad in the future.

With fellow England internationals Tommy Freeman, Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell all signing multi-year contract extensions with Northampton in the past 12 months, Pollock set his sights on challenging for the Champions Cup this season as well as defending Northampton’s Prem title.

“I feel like we’re only just getting started,” he said. “We won the Prem last season and we want to go again. Winning the Champions Cup is another huge ambition for us. We came so close a couple of years ago, and achieving that together would be incredibly special.”

Northampton’s director of rugby Phil Dowson said Pollock still has room to improve but praised the 21-year-old’s impact off the pitch in attracting new fans as well as his importance to the Saints on the field.

“We’re delighted that Henry has committed his future to Saints,” he said. Over the last few years, everyone has seen the quality he brings on the pitch and the speed of his rise through the game – but just as importantly, he’s a young man of outstanding character.

“Keeping someone with both his talent and mindset is hugely important for the club. What’s most exciting is that there’s still so much more to come from him. Henry is incredibly ambitious and constantly looking for ways to improve.

“He’s become an important figure not just for Saints, but for the wider game. He inspires young supporters, brings excitement to rugby, and understands that everything off the pitch is built on performing consistently on it. We’re excited to see what he can achieve over the coming years.”

Northampton confirmed Freeman’s re-signing earlier this week, with the England back receiving an uplift in salary.

Prop Emmanuel Iyogun, who has attracted significant interest from elsewhere, and scrum half Archie McParland are among the club’s other players out of contract at the end of the campaign, and the club have conceded that they may again not be able to keep everyone they wish to having seen club captain George Furbank depart for Harlequins.