England’s rising star Henry Pollock is openly entertaining the idea of moving abroad or even swapping sports, while still keeping his primary focus on rugby as negotiations with Northampton Saints progress. At just 21, Pollock finds himself at a pivotal moment in his career, sitting at the final stages of talks for a fresh contract with the Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton. Yet beyond the immediate contract talks, the young flanker is also looking further ahead, having recently joined Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency to explore a broader range of possibilities. "I definitely want to go and live in different countries, explore new sports, explore new avenues," Pollock explained in a recent interview.
He added that the Matchroom team is constantly reaching out with ideas and opportunities, and that he is unwilling to dismiss any potential path. "Eddie and the Matchroom crew are always messaging me, calling me about different avenues and they've been great with that kind of stuff. I'm not going to say no to any opportunity," he said. For the moment, however, rugby remains his top priority.
"At the minute rugby is my main priority so I'm focusing on that in the near future, but as I said, you never know what's happening around the corner," Pollock noted, underscoring his willingness to keep his options open while staying committed to his current sport. Eddie Hearn, who first approached Northampton in August, has already placed a hefty commercial value on Pollock, describing him as "certainly a seven‑figure player" because of the marketability he brings to the game. Hearn’s assessment of Pollock’s worth—well over £1 million—has been taken in stride by the young athlete.
"I don’t see it as pressure," Pollock replied. "I see it as him doing his job. He's the best sports promoter in the world.
The reason he's the best is because he gets his client what he deserves." Pollock praised Hearn’s influence, saying the promoter has opened doors that would otherwise have remained closed. "Eddie’s been great for me and he’s given me so many avenues to get into.
The way that he can give me access to loads of different stuff has been amazing. I have no bad words about him. The sport of rugby needs to change and hopefully this is a change," he added, hinting at a desire for broader evolution within the sport itself. Despite the wide array of possibilities, the consensus remains that Pollock is likely to stay at Northampton for the foreseeable future.
He expressed a deep emotional connection to the club, describing it as "special" and acknowledging the role it has played in shaping his identity as a player. "Northampton’s been so great to me, I’ve been here my whole career and they’ve made me who I am. For me to stay here would be so special," he said, before tempering his sentiment with a realistic view of the business side of professional sport.
Pollock recognizes that a professional rugby career is fleeting, and that making "selfish" decisions—those that serve his long‑term goals—may be necessary. "Obviously, I know it’s not as easy as that and I know there’s lots of moving parts that come into play. I’m very open to new opportunities and I’m very open to exploring that. I’m so young so I think it’s only right that I assess those options and find the best decision for myself," he explained.
He continued, "Your career is so short that you look back on yourself and you almost regret not exploring new avenues, exploring different things. I think for me, you almost have to be quite selfish in that aspect, think what’s right for you. If that is staying here, then that’s great, I’ll be here for however long. If it’s not, then I’ll be open to new opportunities." In essence, Pollock’s outlook blends gratitude for his current environment with a forward‑looking curiosity about what lies beyond.
While the negotiations with Northampton are still underway, his partnership with Matchroom suggests a willingness to test the waters in other markets—whether that means a stint in a foreign league, a crossover into a different sport, or even a venture into media and entertainment. The young flanker’s openness to change reflects a broader trend among elite athletes who are increasingly leveraging their brand value to carve out multidimensional careers.
As the discussions continue, fans of Northampton Saints will be watching closely, hoping that Pollock’s next contract will keep him in the club’s colors. At the same time, the rugby world will be keen to see whether his ambitions lead him to new continents, new disciplines, or perhaps a combination of both. Whatever the outcome, Pollock’s candidness about his aspirations and his willingness to embrace uncertainty mark him as a modern professional—one who balances on‑field performance with off‑field exploration, always keeping an eye on the next horizon.