Eddie Hearn is convinced that Henry Pollock possesses the kind of star power needed to rouse rugby union from its current slumber, but he insists that the England and Lions flanker – and players of his calibre – must be compensated in a manner that reflects their true market worth. Pollock has become a household name in rugby circles after his representative, Hearn, publicly argued that the 21‑year‑old deserves a contract worth around one million pounds per year as negotiations continue with his present club, Northampton Saints.
At present, Pollock is reported to be earning roughly £150,000 annually under his existing agreement, which runs out in the summer of next year. In addition, the Rugby Football Union adds another £150,000 each year because he is classified as an enhanced elite England player.
Hearn made it clear that Pollock has no intention of walking away from Northampton, yet he used the gap between Pollock's current earnings and his perceived seven‑figure potential to illustrate what Hearn sees as a systemic failure of English rugby to capitalise on its commercial possibilities. "Pollock is making the same amount of money as a young man fighting for the British title in boxing that you've never heard of on one night," Hearn told Sky Sports News, drawing a stark comparison between the earnings of a rising rugby talent and those of a relatively unknown boxer who might win a national belt in a single bout. He went on to stress the physical demands placed on the flanker: "This is a guy who plays over 30 games a year, puts his body through hell every week and, by the way, every team he faces is trying to nail him. This isn’t a guy you’ve never heard of.
He is the absolute flagship superstar of English rugby. He is a red‑hot superstar of the sport." Hearn’s vision for Pollock is clear – a £1 million‑a‑year contract that would bring his remuneration in line with the commercial value he generates. He believes such a deal would send a powerful signal to young athletes across the country.
"Young kids are scoring tries and trying to replicate him. They’re joining local grassroots clubs hoping to become the next Henry Pollock.
Season‑ticket holders are buying tickets just to watch him," Hearn said. "Some love him, some hate him.
Everybody talks about him. He’s 21, he’s the future of the sport, and he has a fantastic opportunity to change rugby forever in this country and make it red‑hot again." According to Hearn, rugby is a sport steeped in tradition, rich history and a deep sense of legacy, but it needs to become more aspirational at every level. "We have to show young people they can chase championships and legacies themselves and that there’s a big financial future within the sport," he added. One of the biggest obstacles to meeting Hearn’s salary expectations is the current £6.4 million salary cap imposed across Premiership Rugby (PREM).
The cap permits each club to designate only one marquee player who is exempt from the overall limit. This restriction, Hearn argues, hampers the ability of clubs like Northampton Saints to reward emerging talents adequately. "I hate this idea of one marquee player," Hearn declared. "The structure is completely wrong.
I’ll be having those meetings with PREM Rugby to talk about why this is a terrible idea. You need to make sure these young players are making as much money as possible. You don’t want to limit them." He warned that capping the number of high‑earning athletes would actually deter investment: "You’re never going to drive money into the sport by limiting the opportunity for owners to create winning clubs and big commercial clubs. You actually want these owners to come in.
If they’re restricted in terms of what they can do, what they can build and the superstars they can bring to the club, then it’s not going to become attractive to them." Hearn’s proposal is radical – instead of a single marquee exemption, he suggests allowing an entire squad of star players to earn beyond the cap. "Forget this capping of things and saying you’re only allowed one star player. Have a whole team of star players. Let’s bring the money into rugby.
Let’s make sure we can grow these fan bases and create superstars within the team," he urged. He believes that a more flexible financial framework would have a trickle‑down effect, benefitting the grassroots game.
More money at the top would generate more high‑profile athletes, which in turn would attract larger broadcast audiences and sponsorship deals. "More money into the sport, more superstars, more big‑name players, bigger viewership across broadcasters. And all of a sudden, the sport becomes hot again," Hearn concluded. In summary, Eddie Hearn is using Henry Pollock’s rising profile as a case study to argue that English rugby’s current salary cap is outdated and counter‑productive.
He contends that rewarding elite players like Pollock with contracts that mirror their commercial appeal will not only retain talent but also spark a broader revitalisation of the sport, from elite clubs down to the local club level. By lifting the cap’s restrictions, Hearn believes rugby can unlock new revenue streams, attract investment, and ultimately become a more exciting and financially rewarding game for players, owners, and fans alike.