Henry Pollock remains stood down for Northampton Saints this weekend, with the England star unable to feature in the PREM Rugby Cup under mandatory player-welfare rules.<\/p>\n
The 21-year-old is again missing from Northampton\u2019s matchday squad for Saturday\u2019s trip to Harlequins, as Saints continue their preparations for the defence of their Gallagher PREM title.<\/p>\n
Pollock is not injured and his absence is not a selection decision from director of rugby Phil Dowson.<\/p>\n
\u2b50 Save us to your\u00a0Google Favourites\u00a0<\/a>for nonstop RUCK content!<\/p>\n Instead, players who were involved in England\u2019s summer international programme are required to complete a mandatory rest and return-to-rugby period before representing their clubs.<\/p>\n Under the player-load regulations agreed by the Men\u2019s Professional Rugby Board, England\u2019s summer tourists are\u00a0not permitted to feature in the PREM Rugby Cup, but will become available for the opening round of the Gallagher PREM.<\/p>\n ENGLAND STARS REMAIN SIDELINED<\/p>\n That leaves Northampton without a host of their biggest names for their second Cup outing.<\/p>\n Pollock, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman, Alex Coles and Emmanuel Iyogun\u00a0were all involved in England\u2019s summer programme and were back at Pennyhill Park this week for Steve Borthwick\u2019s three-day training camp.<\/p>\n Their enforced absence has given Dowson little choice but to continue leaning heavily on Northampton\u2019s wider squad during the opening weeks of the campaign.<\/p>\n Pollock is expected to be back in contention when Saints finally begin their Gallagher PREM campaign against Newcastle on\u00a0Friday, September 25.<\/p>\n Until then, one of English rugby\u2019s biggest young stars remains on the sidelines.<\/p>\n SAINTS MAKE 12 CHANGES<\/p>\n Northampton have nevertheless significantly strengthened their side following last weekend\u2019s remarkable\u00a096-42 defeat against Saracens.<\/p>\n New club captain\u00a0Fraser Dingwall\u00a0comes into the midfield and leads Saints for the first time since taking the role, while\u00a0Tom Pearson\u00a0and\u00a0Ed Prowse\u00a0make their first appearances of the season.<\/p>\n Former Harlequins prop\u00a0Jordan Els\u00a0also makes his Northampton debut against his former club.<\/p>\n Dowson has made\u00a012 changes to his matchday 23\u00a0in total for the trip to The Stoop, with Harlequins having opened their Cup campaign with a 45-21 victory over Leicester Tigers.<\/p>\n EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n