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Pollock joins exiled England star on European player of the year shortlist
By Josh Raisey
England flanker Henry Pollock has been nominated for Europe’s 2025 Investec player of the year following a breakthrough campaign for Northampton Saints.
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The 20-year-old is the joint-second highest try-scorer in the Champions Cup this campaign, crossing the line twice as the Saints recently defeated Castres in the quarter-finals to book a clash with Leinster at Croke Park in a repeat of last season’s semi-final.
Pollock, who made his Test debut in the final round of the Guinness Six Nations this year, is one of two Englishmen on the shortlist, joining Toulouse flanker Jack Willis, who is currently ineligible to play for Steve Borthwick’s side as he is based abroad.
Willis’ Toulouse team-mate Thomas Ramos is also a nominee, alongside his compatriots from Bordeaux-Begles Maxime Lucu and the competition’s leading try-scorer Damian Penaud. The two sides will meet in an all-French semi-final in Bordeaux in May.
The final three players from the eight-man shortlist come from Leinster. Ireland captain Caelan Doris is joined by his international team-mate Jamison Gibson-Park on the list, while Jordie Barrett six-month sabbatical in Dublin has seen him rewarded with a nomination.
All the candidates are from the remaining four sides in the competition, with the winner traditionally coming the victorious side- although that is not always the case.
Pollock’s director of rugby Phil Dowson hailed the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship winner as “world class” when speaking to the BBC in March following the flanker’s try-of-the-season contender against Sale Sharks.
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Discussing Pollock’s performance on the Northampton website, Dowson said: “Henry’s try was just a touch of class.
“He has that ability to change the game and inspire the people around him. He can do things other people can’t do.
“His try gave us another burst of momentum, and even his offload for our first try was pretty special.”
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Needs to do it to a proper team. See how he goes against Leinster.
Exactly! Northampton have had one of the easiest routes to the semis so his stats (which are very good) are a little flattering. How he goes against Leinster (and Toulouse/Bordeaux if they get there) will really define whether he deserves this accolade or not. If he has a great game against Leinster I’m happy to jump on the bandwagon - otherwise I think it's too soon.
A shortlist before the semi’s have even been played??? Risky.
I remember the iconic photo of JVDF getting the award - as Leinster then lost a final.
This is a joke right? He’s good but he’s not that good yet…
Okay, I stand corrected. He was pretty good against Leinster there. Good luck to him!
A podcast I listened to , can’t remember which one, might have been BBC with Chris jones and Ugo Monye, they listed his stats in the competition & they’re impressive. Even more so for someone just turned 20.
I know the hype train can be overdone but he has genuinely been one of the best performing players in the competition so far.
2nd top tryscorer in the competition, 2nd top tackler, top winner of turnovers (and quite a long way ahead of the other contenders).
Hes not the finished article yet, but there's no doubt whatsoever that he deserves this.