Henry Pollock, Nominated for World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year
English flanker Henry Pollock has been included in the list of four nominees for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award.
The 20-year-old player was selected for the British and Irish Lions’ summer tour of Australia, after scoring two tries in his international debut against Wales in March.
Pollock, a Northampton player, did not participate in a Lions Test, but has won three other matches with England this autumn, including a try in the 25-7 victory over the Wallabies on November 1st.
He could become the first Englishman to win the award since the current national team captain, Maro Itoje, in 2016.The other nominees are the Dutch-born New Zealand second row, Fabian Holland, South African winger Ethan Hooker, and Australian back Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
French winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey has been nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year.
The 22-year-old player was named player of the 2025 Six Nations tournament, after scoring a record eight tries.
The current Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit, who also won the award in 2019, is again on the list, along with his South African teammates Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche.
The winners of both awards will be announced on Saturday.
