Pollock: I want to explore new avenues... and new sports

England star Henry Pollock would consider playing abroad or changing sports altogether and has an open-minded approach to his career as talks with Northampton Saints continue.

Pollock's focus remains on rugby and he is at the advanced stage of negotiations for a new contract with Gallagher Prem champions Northampton.

However, the 21-year-old is also looking to eventually broaden his horizons having signed for Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Talent Agency.

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"I definitely want to go and live in different countries, explore new sports, explore new avenues," Pollock said.

"Eddie and the Matchroom team are constantly messaging me, calling me about different avenues and they've been great with that kind of stuff. I'm not going to say no to any opportunity.

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"At the minute rugby is my main priority so I'm focusing on that in the near future, but as I said, you never know what's happening around the corner."

Hearn told Northampton in August that Pollock is "certainly a seven-figure player" because of the commercial clout he brings and the Lions flanker has taken the £1m-plus valuation in his stride.

"I don't see it as pressure," he said. "I see it as him doing his job. He's the best sports promoter in the world. The reason he's the best is because he gets his client what he deserves.

"Eddie's been great for me and he's given me so many avenues to get into. The way that he can give me access to loads of different stuff has been amazing.

"I have no bad words about him. The sport of rugby needs to change and hopefully this is a change."

Stay at Northampton on the horizon?

While Pollock's options for his future remain vast, it is understood that he is close to remaining at Northampton.

While Pollock wants to remain at a club that has been "special" to him, he understands that, during his career, he may need to make "selfish" decisions for his trajectory.

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"Northampton's been so great to me, I've been here my whole career and they've made me who I am. For me to stay here would be so special," said Pollock.

"Obviously, I know it's not as easy as that and I know there's lots of moving parts that come into play. I'm very open to new opportunities and I'm very open to exploring that.

"I'm so young so I think it's only right that I assess those options and find the best decision for myself.

"Your career is so short that you look back on yourself and you almost regret not exploring new avenues, exploring different things," he later added.

"I think for me, you almost have to be quite selfish in that aspect, think what's right for you. If that is staying here, then that's great, I'll be here for however long. If it's not, then I'll be open to new opportunities."