‘Complete Pollocks’ – Eddie Hearn admonished for telling Northampton make Henry Pollock a £1m player

Jeff Stelling has emphatically quashed Eddie Hearn’s suggestion Henry Pollock is worth £1million.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Hearn boldly claimed Pollock, who is signed to the Matchroom Talent Agency, was ‘certainly a seven-figure player’.

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Hearn added Pollock’s commercial value was central to the valuation, stating the 21-year-old ‘drives season ticket sales’ and ‘puts bums on the seats’.

A deal worth that amount would represent a significant upgrade on Pollock’s current contract with the Northampton Saints, which is estimated to be approximately £150,000 per year.

Pollock also nets a similar annual figure from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) thanks to his status as an enhanced elite player squad member within the England team.

‘Complete Pollocks!’

But Stelling couldn’t see a world in which Pollock will sign a contract of such value.

When asked on talkSPORT Breakfast if Pollock was worth £1m, Stelling replied: “Of course he’s not. We’re talking rugby union!

“And I’m sorry, Eddie’s playing a game here. Northampton, average crowd of 15,000. No big TV coverage as far as they’re concerned.

“Rugby’s in a financial crisis as well. Have we not heard of London Irish and Worcester and Wasps? They’ve all gone to the wall.

“Rugby union is not paying anybody £1m. Eddie, it’s complete Pollocks.”

It is worth noting Northampton’s home ground, Franklin’s Gardens, has a capacity of 15,249.

As for Stelling’s point on the sport’s financial woes, all ten PREM teams posted a loss in the 2023/24 season.

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The RFU also sold off the naming rights to Twickenham Stadium to insurance powerhouse Allianz in September 2024 to help generate much-needed funds.

Rugby’s next £1m man?

Hearn’s £1m pitch for Pollock comes as the back rower heads into the final year of his deal with Northampton.

Pollock has also reiterated his desire to Hearn he would like to remain with the reigning PREM champions, which could prompt the team into a salary squeeze.

Under PREM rules, each club can nominate one player to be their marquee, which means there wage falls outside of the £6.4m salary cap.

However, Pollock is no guarantee to be that marquee for Northampton.

England fly-half Fin Smith currently occupies Northampton’s marquee spot and is estimated to be on a yearly salary of £600,000.