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England star Henry Pollock will break the RFU’s own player welfare limit again this weekend as officials admit there are concerns over his workload
Henry Pollock is set to go beyond the Rugby Football Union’s own player welfare limits for the second year running, prompting fresh questions over how England’s brightest young star is being managed.
The 21-year-old flanker will make his 32nd appearance of the season when England face Argentina in Saturday’s Nations Championship clash, despite current player welfare guidelines recommending a maximum of 30 match involvements across a campaign.
The situation has become increasingly awkward for English rugby because the limits were introduced by the RFU and its professional game partners as part of a drive to reduce burnout and protect players from long-term injuries.
Now, Team England Rugby – the body which represents England’s international players – has admitted to The Telegraph Pollock’s workload is “a concern”, while the RFU acknowledges balancing club and international commitments remains a significant challenge.
Pollock’s rise over the last 18 months has been extraordinary.
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After breaking into Northampton Saints’ first team, he has become a Lions tourist, established himself in Steve Borthwick’s England side and emerged as one of world rugby’s hottest properties.
But the workload rules count every appearance, regardless of whether a player spends 80 minutes on the pitch or comes off the bench for only a few moments.
England closely monitor every international through a specialist Player Load Management Group, with exemptions required whenever a player exceeds the recommended threshold.
Pollock is expected to receive a tailored recovery programme before returning to Northampton ahead of the new Premiership season.
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson has previously argued that clubs should not shoulder all the responsibility for protecting leading players.
“There has to be a negotiation and a relationship and a balance as to how many minutes they play and how many games they play,” he said.
“If Henry Pollock goes over his limit, is it entirely my responsibility to rest him going forward?
“There has to be talk around what is best for Henry. We’ve got to think about the next eight years of his career, not just the next eight months.”
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Pollock is not the only England player set to move beyond the recommended limit this weekend.
Centre Henry Slade and Leicester Tigers prop Joe Heyes are also expected to surpass the 30-game guideline, underlining the pressures placed on leading internationals during an increasingly demanding calendar.
Steve Borthwick has already shown he is willing to intervene, resting captain Maro Itoje this summer after the second row accumulated a heavy workload over consecutive seasons.
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