Pollock rewarded with England Elite Player contract

Northampton flanker Henry Pollock, 20, has been rewarded for his stellar year by being included in a new 25-man group to be given Elite Player Squad (EPS) contracts, after the RFU published coach Steve Borthwick's selections on Monday.

The contracts were introduced last September as part of the RFU's new agreement with the Premiership clubs and give Borthwick more control over players' sports science and medical matters while guaranteeing payment to the players involved even if they don't play in tests.

Borthwick initially awarded contracts to 17 players but has now taken up his full allocation of 25, with Pollock the most eye-catching addition.

Pollock was playing in the under-20s at the start of the year, but made a try-scoring full England debut against Wales in March and was then selected for the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia, where he featured in several tour games but did not win a test cap.

Henry Pollock, Tom Roebuck, Tom Willis, Ben Curry, Fin Baxter, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Elliot Daly, Joe Heyes and Will Stuart have been added to England's EPS contract list for the 25/26 season 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/DGwNMkRm6K
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) August 11, 2025

Ben Curry comes in to join brother and fellow flanker Tom, with Sale winger Tom Roebuck also in after an impressive end to his season as back rower Tom Willis is also involved. Alex Mitchell remains the only scrumhalf while there are again three flyhalves - Marcus and Fin Smith and George Ford.

There is no contract for former captain Owen Farrell, who last played for England in the 2023 World Cup before walking away from the international game, but is eligible again after returning from France to rejoin Saracens and having just played for the Lions.

Hooker Theo Dan is the only player to lose his central contract.

"These contracts, together with our strong relationship with the Premiership clubs, will continue to play an important role in the ongoing development of England Rugby," Borthwick said.

England play Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina in this year's Autumn Series.

🗣️ "His overall rapid progress up the ranks has now been rewarded by a huge pay increase courtesy of Steve Borthwick and the RFU."

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England EPS contracts: Five takeaways as Henry Pollock 'hits jackpot'. https://t.co/lxBtU7ALpL
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) August 11, 2025