Exclusive: Henry Pollock signs contract extension with Northampton Saints

It was reported earlier today that Newcastle had matched the £1 million valuation placed on Pollock by his agent Eddie Hearn, with the PREM Rugby side offering the 21-year-old a three-year contract as their marquee player.

However, according to RUCK sources there was no chance of that move happening, with Pollock instead agreeing a contract extension with his boyhood club Northampton Saints.

While the new deal is not believed to come close to Hearn’s £1 million valuation, the two-year extension is understood to be worth more than £750,000 in total.

That would see Pollock earn just under £400,000 per year under his new agreement, which will keep him at Franklin’s Gardens until 2029.

Pollock’s existing contract was due to expire in the summer of 2027, meaning he had been free to discuss his future with rival clubs.

Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson provided a strong indication yesterday that negotiations were progressing well, while also suggesting that Pollock was keen to remain with the Saints for the foreseeable future.

Speaking about the contract negotiations, Dowson said, "It’s going well.

"We’re still pushing it through and what Eddie Hearn also said, was that Henry wants to win stuff, Henry wants to stay at Northampton, Henry wants to play with that group of players, Henry’s enjoying himself and understands that we can talk about it but we’ve got to perform."

Dowson could prove to have played an important role in convincing Pollock to stay, particularly given his willingness to "embrace" the ambitious goals of the young back-rower.

Those ambitions include winning a World Cup with England, while also pursuing a gold medal with Great Britain in rugby sevens at the LA 2028 Olympics.

“He wants to win the World Cup, he wants to do all these things, I embrace that and I’m all for that. The appetite is for him to stay, and we’ve got to find a happy medium.

“We really want to keep him, he really wants to stay and that’s a great starting point.”

Pollock and Hearn’s desire to build a lasting legacy in the game has been well documented, and his decision to remain at Northampton appears to underline the importance he places on his development and success on the pitch rather than simply taking the biggest financial offer available.

The Saints are the reigning PREM Rugby champions and boast a strong core of young England talent, including Fin Smith and Tommy Freeman.

That environment is understood to have been an important factor in Pollock’s decision, with the academy graduate now set to continue his development at the club where he has made his name.

With his new contract running until 2029, Pollock will have the opportunity to build on his growing reputation and establish a long-term legacy at Northampton.