Pollock left money on table to stay at Saints, says Hearn
Eddie Hearn reveals Henry Pollock turned down hundreds of thousands from rivals to sign a new deal with Northampton Saints until summer 2028.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Henry Pollock has signed a contract extension with Northampton Saints until summer 2028.
- Adviser Eddie Hearn says Pollock rejected hundreds of thousands more from rival clubs.
- The deal is worth over £400,000 a year, with total earnings passing £1m via endorsements.
- Pollock is keen to explore representing Great Britain in rugby sevens at the 2028 Olympics.
Henry Pollock turned down rival contract offers worth hundreds of thousands of pounds more than his extension in order to remain at his boyhood club Northampton Saints, according to Eddie Hearn.
Hearn, whose Matchroom promotional empire is well known in boxing, darts, and snooker, has been working as Pollock's adviser since March. The 21-year-old player has agreed to a new deal keeping him at Saints until the summer of 2028, earning a basic salary worth more than £400,000 a year.
Hearn had previously valued Pollock's annual earning potential at the £1m mark during an interview with the Daily Telegraph back in August. While the headline basic figure does not include signing bonuses or off-pitch work payments, Hearn states that endorsement deals have pushed the player's total annual earnings comfortably past £1m.
Pollock is also keen to explore the possibility of representing Great Britain in rugby sevens at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, though Team GB qualification remains uncertain after the programme shifted to part-time status.
"Our principal obligation is to perform for Northampton and to help them win championships."
Eddie Hearn
The back row's new agreement does not feature the dedicated sevens training time that France captain Antoine Dupont took prior to Paris 2024, but the prospect has formally been raised with Saints.
Eddie Hearn's involvement in rugby management introduces commercial marketing perspectives into Premiership Rugby, which operates under a strict £6.4m salary cap designed to maintain financial sustainability and competitive balance across English clubs, mirroring American sports franchise models.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The salary cap restricts player earnings in England unless clubs utilize their single designated marquee player exemption, though players transferring between top-tier teams only qualify after two years. Keeping talent like Pollock is viewed as vital for English rugby amid competition from France's Top 14 league, where a higher salary cap of 11m euros (£9.4m) allows for larger pay packets.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Aside from representing Pollock and Scotland fly-half Finn Russell, Hearn has ambitions to become more involved in rugby promotion. He is scheduled to meet with Prem Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor in Monaco in the coming weeks to discuss fresh ideas for the sport.
Source: BBC Sport
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