Rugby-Pollock rewarded with England Elite Player contract

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - European Champions Cup - Northampton Saints v Castres - Franklin's Gardens, Northampton, Britain - April 12, 2025 Northampton Saints' Henry Pollock celebrates scoring a try Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) -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.