The youngest tryscorer of any English player in Six Nations history

Henry Pollock was just 17 years old when he made his Northampton Saints senior debut against London Irish in a Premiership Rugby Cup fixture back in September 2022.

That came four years after joining the Saints Academy set-up, after catching the eye performing for Buckingham RUFC, Beachborough Prep School, and latterly Stowe School.

Two more senior appearances followed in the 2022/23 campaign for the talented back row, and four in 2023/24 – including his Premiership debut against Leicester Tigers.

After inspiring England Under-20s to win the 2024 World Rugby Championship, Pollock launched into the 2024/25 Saints campaign with gusto. In 22 appearances, he scored ten tries and picked up a hat-trick of annual awards, winning Breakthrough Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Try of the Season – for his incredible effort against Sale Sharks, which happened to be first score in the Premiership.

He was also named the Premiership’s Breakthrough Player of the Season at The Rugby Awards in June 2025.

Pollock’s seven tries in as many Champions Cup games leading up to his participation in the 2024/25 Final against Bordeaux Bègles, alongside his prolific breakdown and tackling work, saw him nominated for the Player of the Tournament accolade.

This form didn’t go unnoticed by England head coach Steve Borthwick, who first included the young Saint in the England A fixture against Australia in November 2024. A first senior cap followed off the bench against Wales in the final round of the 2025 Six Nations, when he scored two tries in a 14-68 win in Cardiff.

Despite playing little over 30 minutes of Test rugby at the time, Andy Farrell (Head Coach of the British & Irish Lions) had seen enough to make Pollock the youngest player selected for the 2025 tour to Australia.

[Source: Northampton Saints]

The Northampton Saints back row became England men's youngest Six Nations try-scorer, beating Henry Arundell's previous record by 36 days, after latching on to George Ford's pass to open his account out wide.

Pollock's meteoric rise - from winning the Under-20 World Cup with England last summer to breaking through at Northampton and making a Test debut - has come as no surprise to Saints team-mate Freeman.

"He is unbelievable," said Freeman, who made history of his own by becoming the first England player to score a try in every game of a Six Nations campaign.

"I don't want to big him up too much, but honestly, he brings energy like you have never seen before for a 20-year-old.

"I remember my first game I was shaking in the corner, all nervous. But this guy, nothing fazes him.

"I remember [Friday] night as well. He was in my room telling me he was going to get his first try on the wing - and then he gets it.

"He was doing the try celebrations as well in the room, showed me what he was going to do.

"But that is the type of guy he is, and fair play to him, he backs it up and he has got a big career ahead of him.

"That kid is pretty, pretty special, and he will continue to be, I am sure."

[Source: BBC Sport]