England and British & Irish Lions forward Henry Pollock has ended speculation over his future by signing a new contract that will keep him at Northampton Saints until 2028.
The 21-year-old has been the subject of intense interest following his rapid rise over the past two seasons, but has now opted to continue his development with the defending Premiership champions.
Pollock said staying at the club was ultimately an easy decision, having spent his entire professional career at Northampton.
“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 new agreement represents a significant improvement on the contract Pollock signed in December 2024, which was reportedly worth around £150,000 a year.
The precise value of his new deal has not been disclosed, although some reports have put his annual salary at about £400,000, while people familiar with the negotiations say the figure is higher.
That would place Pollock among the better-paid players in the Premiership despite his age.
The forward’s future had attracted considerable attention after his performances for Northampton, England and the British & Irish Lions led his adviser, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, to describe him during negotiations as a potential “seven-figure player”.
However, Northampton and other Premiership clubs operate within the league’s £6.4 million salary cap, making such a valuation difficult to accommodate.
Pollock said he was relieved to have the negotiations concluded so he could concentrate fully on rugby.
“I don’t create it, my team do,” he said of the speculation surrounding his future.
“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.”
Pollock’s decision comes after a remarkable rise since making his Northampton league debut in November 2023.
He established himself as a regular first-team player after helping England Under-20s win the age-grade world title and subsequently became one of the standout performers in Northampton’s title-winning campaign.
His form earned him an England debut against Wales in March 2025, when he scored twice after coming off the bench, before he was selected for the British & Irish Lions two months later.
He has since featured in each of England’s past 12 Tests, while his performances in Northampton’s run to the Champions Cup final also earned him a place on the shortlist for the competition’s player of the year award.
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson praised Pollock’s development and character, saying the youngster had already demonstrated leadership qualities despite his age.
“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,” Dowson said.
He added that Pollock’s understanding of the game and desire to improve provided a strong foundation for his continued development.
With his future settled until 2028, Pollock is now turning his attention to helping Northampton retain their Premiership title.
“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.”
