4 days ago
Henry Pollock lands England EPS deal but Owen Farrell misses out
Steve Borthwick has handed a central contract to Henry Pollock, though Owen Farrell remains outside an enlarged list of 25 England players.
Fin Baxter, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Curry, Elliot Daly, Joe Heyes, Tom Roebuck, Will Stuart and Tom Willis as well as Pollock are those to have taken up enhanced Elite Player Squad (EPS) deals, which are understood to be worth £150,000. Some of the initial 17 awarded last season were multi-year arrangements, whereas others were for a single season.
Theo Dan, the Saracens hooker, is the sole member of the inaugural group of 17 that has not renewed terms.
The inclusion of Cowan-Dickie, Daly, Pollock and Stuart means that Farrell is the sole England international to have toured with the British and Irish Lions this summer who does not now hold a central contract.
Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Jamie George, Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, Tommy Freeman, Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith, all of whom toured Australia with Andy Farrell's invitational side, have been retained.
Borthwick has hinted that he expects Farrell to concentrate on his performances for Saracens upon returning from Racing 92 for the 2025-26 Premiership season. In George Ford, Fin Smith and Marcus Smith, there are three fly-halves to hold enhanced EPS deals already.
Pollock's recognition, meanwhile, rewards a remarkable 12 months. Just a year ago, the 20-year-old had helped England Under-20 to World Championship glory in South Africa.
Henry Pollock in full flow for England Under-20s 💪
— Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) February 2, 2024
There is no suggestion that these contracts have been improved to counter the presence of R360, even though the breakaway league is said to have agreed legally binding pre-contractual agreements with up to 10 players that have represented England in the past year.
Borthwick has always had scope to enlarge his cohort of centrally contracted players to this mark of 25, with the arrangement designed so that the England head coach has greater influence over the medical provision of those individuals.
'I am pleased to name the players who will receive an enhanced EPS contract this season,' said Borthwick.
'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.'
Handing Farrell a deal would have been a blunder
No Farrell, no surprise
Whenever he has been asked about Owen Farrell returning to England, Steve Borthwick has been deeply respectful. He has, however, delivered strong hints that the 33-year-old will need to string together convincing performances for Saracens before returning to the Test fold in a playing capacity.
Last season showcased the talents of all three contracted England fly-halves nicely. Marcus Smith sparkled in November 2024 before Fin Smith justifiably earned the standing of front-line 10 during the Six Nations. George Ford put his ego aside and assumed a more peripheral – though still influential – role as those two youngsters emerged before retaking the reins impressively in Argentina and USA over the summer.
After returning from what may have been a cathartic trip with the British and Irish Lions, the priority for Farrell should be club action. To hand him an enhanced Elite Player Squad contract would have been a blunder from Borthwick.
Back-row rush
Ben Curry, Tom Willis and the effervescent Henry Pollock join Tom Curry and Ben Earl to swell the cohort of centrally contracted specialist back-rowers to five. This reflects an area of profound strength for Borthwick. No wonder he is pondering a seven-one bench to fit them all in. Sam Underhill, immense again over the two-Test series against Argentina, remains on the outer. He and Bath buddy Guy Pepper will surely challenge for the next round.
It will be interesting to see if Chandler Cunningham-South can push for recognition from his new position as an auxiliary lock. Ted Hill is in the same boat there. Willis, Ben Curry and Pollock, frankly, broke the door down. Willis was a rambunctious focal point in Argentina with Ben Curry arguably the pick of England's back-rowers over the 2025 Six Nations. Pollock has been an energising presence, too. It is a fiendishly competitive area where nobody will feel totally comfortable.
Experience and adaptability remain vital
England have not disclosed the length of these contracts, but it is important to remember that some of the initial deals will have been multi-year arrangements. Henry Slade is still on the list of 25 despite slipping out of the front-line 23 at the end of the Six Nations. The 32-year-old is clearly valued for his know-how and his ability to integrate younger colleagues. He and George Furbank are emergency fly-halves as well.
It may be no coincidence that another versatile 32-year-old, Elliot Daly, has been introduced to the enhanced EPS bracket. Daly was plotting a course towards the Lions Test team before fracturing his arm in a routine victory over the Reds. His displays had been a reminder of his class and resourcefulness. Rewinding further back, he forced his way back into the England side during the 2025 Six Nations, scoring off the bench against France before starting the last two fixtures, against Italy Wales, at full-back and then on the wing. Borthwick appreciates adaptability more than most coaches.
⌚️ Elliot Daly scoring the winning try in the final minute to clinch the victory for England over France at the Allianz 🔥🔥 #Breitling #DefiningMoment @Breitling
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 8, 2025
Scrummaging resurgence rewarded
Props were conspicuous by their absence in the initial batch of 17 central contracts, with Ellis Genge the only one. Since then, no doubt propelled by the scrummaging improvements of the past year or so under Tom Harrison, three more have joined the crew. Fin Baxter and Joe Heyes were exceptional against the Pumas, whereas Will Stuart deserved his Lions call-up. Borthwick has enthused about how Asher Opoku-Fordjour could become an important trump card for World Cups because of his capacity to switch between tighthead and loosehead. Mark him down as a future candidate for one of these deals.
George Martin's retention, alongside two other locks in Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum, emphasises his value as a bopping bully in the engine room. England will be managing his nagging fitness issues, as they will be aiding Ollie Lawrence on the return from a ruptured Achilles. Elsewhere, the teak tough Luke Cowan-Dickie – renowned as an excellent scrummager – replaces Theo Dan. He and Jamie George are a wily pair of hookers. Borthwick will be eager to see a big season from younger candidates such as Curtis Langdon, Jamie Blamire and Nathan Jibulu.
Still one scrum-half
There are a few intriguing conundrums in the backline. Imperious in the air and deceptively dynamic on the ground, Tom Roebuck is the latest wing addition. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, brought on a three-game tour when he could only play in the final game because of suspension, is evidently a long-term project for England. Explosive, game-breaking athleticism is a precious asset. Might it be that Tommy Freeman begins a more permanent move into midfield after starting there against Wales in March?
Seb Atkinson certainly did enough this summer to put himself in the frame for the autumn as a ball-playing 12. We will be debating the make-up of England's centres until those fixtures commence with Australia's visit to Twickenham on November 1. Similarly, the scrum-half landscape remains curiously open. Alex Mitchell is the only number nine to own a central contract. Below that, seemingly, Borthwick has left his options open. Ben Spencer looked more assured than ever in Argentina, with Jack van Poortvliet returning to nab a vital try in San Juan.
England leave it late!
What a try from Jack van Poortvliet 👏
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 12, 2025
England showed faith in Harry Randall by staying patient while the scampering Bristol Bear recovered from injury to make that touring squad. The 20-year-old Archie McParland, fast-tracked into an appearance for the A team against Australia, has been earmarked for big things and Lucas Friday, even younger at 19, is a promising prospect. Perhaps more central contracts will be dealt out to scrum-halves once the pecking order has been truly established.
