Eddie Hearn has taken a strong stance on the current salary‑cap structure in English rugby, arguing that it is hampering the sport’s growth and undervaluing emerging stars like Henry Pollock. Hearn believes that the 21‑year‑old flanker, who also features for the British & Irish Lions, possesses the kind of marketable appeal that could revive rugby union’s popularity, but only if his earnings reflect his commercial worth. Pollock has become a talking point after Hearn, acting as his representative, publicly suggested that the youngster deserves a contract worth around £1 million per year. This comment came amid ongoing negotiations with his current club, Northampton Saints, whose existing agreement with Pollock is set to expire next summer.
Under the present deal, Pollock receives roughly £150,000 from the Saints and an additional £150,000 from the Rugby Football Union as an "enhanced elite" England player, bringing his total annual income to about £300,000. While Hearn insists that Pollock has no intention of leaving Northampton, he uses the disparity between the player’s potential earnings and his current salary to illustrate a broader issue: English rugby is not capitalising on the commercial opportunities that its top talent can generate. "Pollock is earning the same amount as a relatively unknown boxer fighting for a British title on a single night," Hearn told Sky Sports News.
"He plays more than 30 matches a season, endures intense physical strain every week, and every opposition team is specifically targeting him. He isn’t a fringe player; he’s the flagship star of English rugby right now." Hearn’s argument goes beyond a single contract. He paints a picture of a sport where young athletes are inspired by Pollock’s performances, flocking to grassroots clubs with the dream of emulating his success. Ticket sales for Saints games have reportedly risen as fans line up to watch the young flanker, and opinion about him is sharply divided—some adore him, others criticize him, but virtually everyone talks about him.
At just 21, Hearn says, Pollock embodies the future of rugby and holds the potential to transform the game’s appeal in the United Kingdom. "Rugby is steeped in history, legacy and community," Hearn said. "We need to make it aspirational at every level.
Young people must see that they can chase championships, build their own legacies, and enjoy a lucrative career in the sport." One of the main obstacles to achieving that vision, according to Hearn, is the Premier Rugby Executive Management (PREM) salary cap, currently set at £6.4 million. The cap allows each club to designate only one marquee player whose salary is exempt from the overall limit.
Hearn argues that this restriction prevents clubs from fully rewarding multiple high‑profile athletes and, consequently, limits the sport’s commercial growth. He told the media that he plans to raise the issue directly with PREM Rugby officials.
"I despise the idea of a single marquee player," he said. "The structure is fundamentally flawed. I’ll be meeting with the league to explain why this model is detrimental.
We must ensure young talent can earn as much as the market will bear. Capping their earnings does nothing to attract investment or create winning, commercially viable clubs." Hearn further explained that limiting clubs’ ability to sign several star players makes the league less attractive to owners and sponsors. "If owners can’t build squads filled with marquee talent, they won’t want to invest," he argued. "We need to move away from a one‑star‑player rule and allow clubs to assemble multiple superstars.
That will drive revenue, expand fan bases, and generate more media interest." According to Hearn, the benefits would cascade down the entire rugby ecosystem. More money at the top would enable clubs to develop better facilities, increase youth outreach programs, and provide higher wages throughout the playing ranks. This, in turn, would boost viewership on broadcasters, raise the sport’s profile, and make rugby a hotter product for advertisers and sponsors.
In summary, Hearn’s position is that the current salary‑cap framework is a relic that stifles growth, limits player earnings, and ultimately prevents rugby union from reaching its full commercial potential. By granting players like Henry Pollock a contract that reflects their market value—potentially around £1 million per year—Hearn believes the sport can spark a renaissance, attract new fans, and secure a financially sustainable future for all stakeholders.