Saints’ Pollock on Champions Cup award shortlist

Henry Pollock, a Northampton flanker, was honored with a nomination for the Champions Cup Player of the Year after a breakout season.

The 20-year-old has made six tries in six games as Saints advanced to a second-straight semi-final.

The eight-person shortlist includes Toulouse’s English back row Jack Willis, Leinster’s Jordie Barrett, and centre Jordie Barrett from New Zealand.

Caelan Doris and Jamison Gibson-Park, both from Ireland and Leinster, and Maxime Lucu and Damian Penaud, both from Bordeaux-Begles, and Willis’ club teammate Thomas Ramos.

On Saturday, May 3, Northampton travel to Dublin to face Leinster before Toulouse travel to Bordeaux Begles for an all-French match.

Prior to the start of the season, Pollock had only made one Premiership appearance and spent a significant portion of his previous campaign on loan at Bedford, the championship side.

However, his progress has been accelerated by the departure of Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlam, and he has since played a significant role in the first team since winning the under-20 World Cup with England last summer.