Henry Pollock the million-pound player? Why Eddie Hearn's sums don't add up, the reality of the French threat and how this will all likely end

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When Henry Pollock became the first rugby player to sign with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency in March, it was a positive shift for the sport.

The English club game has struggled financially and its players have, with a few exceptions, struggled to cut through into mainstream society. Hearn’s arrival into the game was viewed as a means of changing that, raising the profiles of Pollock and Scotland No 10 Finn Russell who also joined the stable and by extension, that of rugby too. It all seemed rather positive.

Almost immediately, however, Hearn questioned how much Pollock was earning through his contracts with club Northampton Saints and England. He vowed to soon increase that.

On Monday, Hearn went one step further. He told The Daily Telegraph that Pollock, still just 21 and with a grand total of one start for England under his belt, was deserving of a Northampton salary of £1million a year.

This was on the basis that he is a player who brings a unique combination of undoubted on-field talent as well as significant commercial benefits to the sport he plays. ‘He's certainly a seven-figure player,’ Hearn said. ‘The way rugby's going and what Pollock is doing, his value over the next couple of years will skyrocket and I think the value of rugby will.’

Hearn is right about one thing. Pollock has been a breath of fresh air to English rugby. He is supremely talented and although not universally popular, he is exactly the sort of player the sport needs to grow. Where Hearn is misguided, however, is on the numbers.

When Henry Pollock became the first rugby player to sign with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency in March, it was a positive shift for the sport

Pollock has been a breath of fresh air to English rugby. He is supremely talented and although not universally popular, he is exactly the sort of player the sport needs to grow

Pollock’s current Northampton contract – which, and the timing is crucial to Hearn's words, expires next summer – is worth £150,000 and his status as an Enhanced Elite Playing Squad (EEPS) member with England also earns him roughly the same again from the RFU.

But in English rugby’s current financial climate, it is simply inconceivable for Northampton – or indeed any of the other nine PREM Rugby teams – to pay Pollock such a sum. Even with the investment coming into the league, the money just does not exist in this country right now.

It would great if it did as it would reflect significant growth across the English game. But, unfortunately, it does not. It is pie in the sky. The only possible side who could go to such lengths is Newcastle Red Bulls following their takeover by the energy drink giants, though that is unlikely.

Even the richest French clubs, in their thriving system full of money, would likely baulk at such a figure - and, of course, would require Pollock to give up his England career by playing overseas.

Antoine Dupont, still the biggest star in the world game, earns £1.2million a year at Toulouse, but Pollock is not on the France scrum-half's level, in talent or earnings power. England heavyweights Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje would have earned close to £1million at Saracens - but that was before the EEPS contracts came in, where the RFU covers some of the player's salary to lower the burden on clubs.

But really, it is irrelevant. Pollock does not want to leave Northampton. It is also pointless Hearn comparing Pollock’s income with that of his boxing clients. It is like comparing chalk with cheese. Rugby, unfortunately, remains far behind boxing and miles off football in terms of the wealth within the sport.

There is no doubt that Pollock’s rapid ascent from an academy player to a regular England international and British & Irish Lion is unusual for one so young. As such, he is certainly deserving of an increase from £150,000.

But Hearn’s demands are likely to cause a problem for Northampton. All PREM teams are limited to a playing squad spend of £6.4m, with the salary of one ‘marquee’ player allowed outside that figure. Northampton are a club who do not spend up to the maximum in a bid to ensure financial stability, making their league titles in 2024 and 2026 all the more impressive.

There is no doubt that Pollock’s rapid ascent to a regular England international and British & Irish Lion is unusual for one so young. He is certainly deserving of an increase

Northampton do not spend close to the PREM Rugby salary cap, which makes their recent titles in 2024 and 2026 all the more impressive

It is unlikely that the Saints hierarchy of director of rugby Phil Dowson and chief executive Julia Chapman will blow their team’s modus operandi into smithereens at Hearn’s demands, even if they will clearly want to keep hold of Pollock. They have other high-class England stars to keep happy too, namely Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman and Alex Mitchell.

Another complication is that when Pollock and Russell announced their Matchroom deals, it was confirmed that their then-representative Matt Hart of Stellar Group, would remain in charge of their playing contracts.

That is still the case. But Hearn’s comments do raise an interesting question as to who will be leading the negotiating with Northampton. Hearn and Hart are working collaboratively with Pollock, but the former’s comments have certainly rocked the boat.

The likely result of all this is a compromise. Pollock will get an increase, though it is almost certain to fall well short of Hearn’s demands. The player, however, is likely to in time get close to being the million-pound man through additional commercial contracts alongside his Northampton and England deals. And that can only be a good thing for him and rugby as a whole.