Henry Pollock Star Continues to Rise with Champions Cup Player of the Year Nomination

Northampton Saints flanker earns well-deserved Champions Cup award nod after a breakthrough campaign

From loan spells in the Championship to standing shoulder to shoulder with Europe’s finest, Henry Pollock’s rugby story this season has been nothing short of meteoric. Now, the 20-year-old Northampton Saints flanker finds himself on the shortlist for one of the sport’s most prestigious accolades — the Champions Cup Player of the Year award.

It’s a recognition that speaks volumes about the strides he’s taken over the past 12 months. Pollock, a relative unknown this time last year, has gone from promising academy talent to one of the most exciting young back-rowers in Europe, with a nomination that places him alongside some of the game’s modern-day greats.

From Bedford Blues to European elite

At the start of the season, few outside of Northamptonshire could have predicted just how central Henry Pollock would become to the Saints’ ambitions. The young flanker had made just one Premiership appearance before the 2023-24 campaign and had spent the previous year developing his craft at Bedford Blues in the Championship.

But rugby careers can change in an instant — and for Pollock, the stars began to align. The departures of seasoned internationals Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlam left a gap in the Saints’ back row, and head coach Phil Dowson didn’t hesitate in handing responsibility to the former England Under-20 captain.

What followed has been a thrilling breakout season. Pollock has scored six tries in six Champions Cup matches — a remarkable return for a flanker — and has become a cornerstone of a Northampton side now just one win away from a place in the final.

Rubbing shoulders with Europe’s best

Saints star Pollock named on world-class shortlist for top European award

Pollock’s nomination for the Champions Cup Player of the Year award puts him in elite company. The eight-man shortlist includes names that need no introduction: Leinster’s Jordie Barrett, Caelan Doris, and Jamison Gibson-Park; Toulouse’s England international Jack Willis and full-back Thomas Ramos; and Bordeaux-Bègles duo Maxime Lucu and Damian Penaud.

To be included among players of that calibre is not only a testament to Pollock’s performances, but also a sign of how highly he is regarded across European rugby. While others on the list boast Rugby World Cups, Six Nations titles, and club honours, Pollock brings something different — the thrill of the new, the fearlessness of youth, and the sense that this is only just the beginning.

Saints chasing European glory

Northampton’s resurgence under Dowson has been one of the standout stories of the season. After reaching the semi-finals last year, they’ve gone one better this time by doing it in style, with an attacking brand of rugby that has thrilled fans and flummoxed opponents.

Pollock has been at the heart of it all. Whether stealing turnovers, carrying hard in the wide channels, or running perfect support lines, his influence has grown game by game. There’s a maturity to his game that belies his years — but also a raw energy that makes him a nightmare for opposition defences.

The Saints will travel to Dublin to face Leinster on Saturday, May 3 in a match that promises fireworks. The Irish province, with their Champions Cup pedigree and stacked lineup, will pose the sternest of tests. But with Pollock in this kind of form, Northampton fans have every reason to believe.

From Six Nations debut to Lions whispers

Pollock’s rise hasn’t gone unnoticed at international level either. After a stellar campaign with England Under-20s, which saw him lift the Junior World Championship last summer, he was drafted into Steve Borthwick’s senior England squad late in the Six Nations.

He made an immediate impact. Coming off the bench against Wales, Pollock crossed the whitewash twice, announcing himself in the most emphatic way possible on the Test stage. It was a performance that not only delighted fans, but also sparked conversations about his place in the pecking order ahead of next year’s British and Irish Lions tour.

It may seem early, but Lions squads have always had room for bolters — players who capture the imagination and force their way into contention through sheer form. Pollock, with his blend of pace, power, and intelligence, fits that bill. Should he finish this season strongly, and perhaps even help Saints lift the Champions Cup, it would be hard to ignore his credentials.

The future looks bright

In a sport where young talent often takes years to blossom, Henry Pollock has fast-tracked his way to the top tier. Still just 20, his game is already built on a solid foundation: defensively sound, tactically astute, and relentlessly competitive. Add to that his eye for the try line, and you’ve got a player who could shape English and European rugby for years to come.

His Champions Cup Player of the Year award nomination might not yet result in a win — the competition is fierce, after all — but it stands as a milestone in a career that’s on a serious upward trajectory.

For now, though, all focus will be on Dublin, where Pollock and the Saints will look to defy the odds once more. And whatever happens, one thing is clear: Henry Pollock is no longer a rising star — he’s a star, full stop.