Pollock rewarded with England Elite Player contract
LONDON - 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.
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.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Business Lower-wage retail workers to receive up to 6% pay bump from Sept 1
Singapore Keppel to sell M1's telco business to Simba for $1.43b, says deal expected to benefit consumers
Singapore ST Explains: Who owns Simba, the company that is buying M1?
Singapore Telco price undercutting expected to subside after sale of M1 to Simba: Analysts
Singapore ST Explains: What is Vers and which HDB estates could it be rolled out in?
Singapore For Vers to work, compensation should account for varied needs of HDB flat owners: Observers
World US military is preparing to deploy National Guard in Washington, DC, official says
Singapore Ong Ye Kung rebuts complaints about treatment of stallholders at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre
"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.
England Men's enhanced EPS contracts:
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Tom Willis (Saracens) REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
5 hours ago
- CNA
Pollock rewarded with England Elite Player contract
LONDON :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. 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. England Men's enhanced EPS contracts: Fin Baxter (Harlequins) Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers) Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks) Ben Curry (Sale Sharks) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) Elliot Daly (Saracens) Ben Earl (Saracens) Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs) George Ford (Sale Sharks) Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints) George Furbank (Northampton Saints) Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears) Jamie George (Saracens) Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers) Maro Itoje (Saracens) Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby) George Martin (Leicester Tigers) Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints) Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints) Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks) Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) Fin Smith (Northampton Saints) Marcus Smith (Harlequins) Will Stuart (Bath Rugby) Tom Willis (Saracens)
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Pollock rewarded with England Elite Player contract
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox LONDON - 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. 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. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Lower-wage retail workers to receive up to 6% pay bump from Sept 1 Singapore Keppel to sell M1's telco business to Simba for $1.43b, says deal expected to benefit consumers Singapore ST Explains: Who owns Simba, the company that is buying M1? Singapore Telco price undercutting expected to subside after sale of M1 to Simba: Analysts Singapore ST Explains: What is Vers and which HDB estates could it be rolled out in? Singapore For Vers to work, compensation should account for varied needs of HDB flat owners: Observers World US military is preparing to deploy National Guard in Washington, DC, official says Singapore Ong Ye Kung rebuts complaints about treatment of stallholders at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre "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. England Men's enhanced EPS contracts: Fin Baxter (Harlequins) Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers) Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks) Ben Curry (Sale Sharks) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) Elliot Daly (Saracens) Ben Earl (Saracens) Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs) George Ford (Sale Sharks) Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints) George Furbank (Northampton Saints) Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears) Jamie George (Saracens) Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers) Maro Itoje (Saracens) Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby) George Martin (Leicester Tigers) Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints) Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints) Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks) Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) Fin Smith (Northampton Saints) Marcus Smith (Harlequins) Will Stuart (Bath Rugby) Tom Willis (Saracens) REUTERS
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
South Africa select Kolisi at No. 8 for Australia clash at Ellis Park
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox JOHANNESBURG – South Africa captain Siya Kolisi will start at No. 8 for the first time in a Test when they begin their Rugby Championship defence in Johannesburg against Australia on Aug 16. The 34-year-old double Rugby World Cup winner, who will be making his 94th Test appearance, is usually found on the flank but has operated in the position for his franchise, the Durban-based Sharks. He will do it for the first time for the Boks largely because the other leading contenders are all unavailable. Regular No. 8 Jasper Wiese is serving a four-match ban after head-butting a rival in a warm-up victory over Italy in July. Other options Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom suffered serious pre-Springbok season injuries and are unlikely to be available this year. Moving Kolisi means flanker Marco van Staden comes into the starting line-up with reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit completing the back row. Manie Libbok gets the nod at fly-half ahead of Handre Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu with head coach Rassie Erasmus well aware of the record of the Japan-based playmaker. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Lower-wage retail workers to receive up to 6% pay bump from Sept 1 Singapore Keppel to sell M1's telco business to Simba for $1.43b, says deal expected to benefit consumers Singapore ST Explains: Who owns Simba, the company that is buying M1? Singapore Telco price undercutting expected to subside after sale of M1 to Simba: Analysts Singapore ST Explains: What is Vers and which HDB estates could it be rolled out in? Singapore For Vers to work, compensation should account for varied needs of HDB flat owners: Observers Singapore Ong Ye Kung rebuts complaints about treatment of stallholders at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre Singapore 'Incorrigible' sexual predator who preyed on children convicted for 4th time The Springboks have lost only one of 13 Tests when Libbok started – the pool defeat by Ireland at the 2023 World Cup in France. But when the 28-year-old came off the bench in seven internationals, record four-time World Cup winners South Africa lost four. Creative Libbok is capable of opening the tightest defences, but doubts remain over his goal kicking, a skill perfected by Pollard. Grant Williams has moved to the front of the queue for the hotly contested scrum-half position and starts with veteran Cobus Reinach providing cover on the bench. Erasmus has opted not to risk star winger Cheslin Kolbe or veteran centre Damian de Allende as both are recovering from niggles. Edwill van der Merwe, who has scored five tries in three Tests, replaces Kolbe on the right wing while Andre Esterhuizen fills in for de Allende at inside centre. 'We've been experimenting with player combinations during the (July internationals) and at our conditioning camp in the last two weeks, and we believe this team will allow us to play the type of rugby we want to play against Australia,' Erasmus said. 'All of the starters except for Edwill have faced them before, and we are confident that he is ready for this challenge.' Erasmus has opted for a 5-3 split between forwards and backs, another sign the Springboks intend to run the ball. Australia, who flew to Johannesburg after a 2-1 series loss to the British and Irish Lions, will want to snap a four-match losing streak against South Africa. Coach Joe Schmidt will name his team on Aug 14. Calling the Wallabies a 'physical and well-coached team', Erasmus said: 'We'll certainly not underestimate how much those performances (against the Lions), combined with their motivation to bounce back strongly against us after the last few results between the teams, and win their first match ever at Ellis Park, will inspire them.' AFP, REUTERS
