Eddie Hearn has claimed that 21-year-old Northampton Saints player Henry Pollock deserves a salary of £1 million a year, despite English rugby facing severe financial limits.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Monday, Hearn said Pollock, who has made one start for England, is a "seven-figure player" due to his on-field talent and commercial value. Hearn added: "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."
Pollock became the first rugby player to sign with Hearn's Matchroom Talent Agency in March, a move seen as positive for an English club game struggling financially and lacking mainstream profile. Scotland number 10 Finn Russell also joined Matchroom.
Shortly after signing Pollock, Hearn questioned his earnings from Northampton Saints and England, pledging to increase them. Pollock has rapidly progressed from an academy player to a regular England international and British & Irish Lion.
Hearn described Pollock as a breath of fresh air and a supreme talent that rugby needs to grow, even if he is not universally popular. However, Hearn's figures clash with the financial reality of English rugby.
Pollock's current Northampton contract expires next summer and is worth £150,000. He earns roughly the same amount again from the Rugby Football Union as an Enhanced Elite Playing Squad (EEPS) member.
Paying Pollock £1 million a year is considered impossible for Northampton or any of the nine other PREM Rugby teams. The only side that could potentially afford such a contract following a takeover by energy drink giants is Newcastle Red Bulls, though that is unlikely.
PREM Rugby Salary Cap and Overseas Options
Even wealthy French clubs would likely baulk at a £1 million salary, and moving to France would require Pollock to give up his England career. France scrum-half Antoine Dupont, the biggest star in world rugby, earns £1.2 million a year at Toulouse, but Pollock does not match Dupont in talent or earning power.
In England, heavyweights Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje earned close to £1 million at Saracens before EEPS contracts were introduced to cover part of player salaries and lower the burden on clubs.
Pollock does not want to leave Northampton, making overseas moves irrelevant. Hearn's comparison between Pollock's income and his boxing clients is also unhelpful, as rugby trails far behind boxing and football in financial wealth.
While Pollock's rapid rise merits an increase from his £150,000 contract, Hearn's demands create challenges for Northampton. PREM Rugby teams face a £6.4 million salary cap for their squad, with only one marquee player allowed outside that limit.
Northampton Saints operate below the maximum spend to maintain financial stability, a strategy that helped them win league titles in 2024 and 2026. Director of rugby Phil Dowson and chief executive Julia Chapman are unlikely to abandon their operating model, especially with other England stars like Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman and Alex Mitchell to retain.
Management Roles and Contract Outlook
Negotiations are further complicated by playing representation. When Pollock and Russell joined Matchroom, it was confirmed that Matt Hart of Stellar Group would remain in charge of their playing contracts.
Hart continues in that role while collaborating with Hearn and Pollock. However, Hearn's public statements have raised questions over who will lead contract talks with Northampton and have created friction ahead of negotiations.
The situation is expected to result in a compromise where Pollock receives a salary increase from Northampton that falls well short of Hearn's £1 million demand. Over time, Pollock could approach a seven-figure income by combining his club and RFU earnings with commercial contracts.
