Amid the 2,000 fans gathered at the O2 Arena for the unveiling of the British & Irish Lions squad, several Northampton Saints jerseys stood out.
Each name announced generated cheers, but when the Lions tour director, Ieuen Evans, mentioned Henry Pollock, the emotion seemed to flood the place, unleashing a deafening ovation.
A Rapid and Surprising Rise
The inclusion of Pollock in the list of 38 players was the highlight.
Although his youth and limited experience in trial matches (only 32 minutes) could be considered a risk, those who witnessed Pollock’s performance in Northampton’s victory over Leinster knew that coach Andy Farrell had no other option.
Pollock’s rise has been meteoric. On January 21, 2023, during a Northampton Saints match, the young player’s potential was already visible. A member of the team staff predicted that Pollock would become a household name.
In the following 18 months, Pollock was selected for the England U20 team, accumulated minutes in the Gallagher Premiership, and began to be mentioned as a future England player.
Andy Farrell explains his son Owen’s exclusion from the Lions squad.
In this year’s Six Nations tournament, Pollock started with the Under-20 team, but finished on the bench for the first team in their match against Wales, where he scored two tries.
Following that match, Pollock expressed his hope of being a starter on England’s summer tour, if selected. Although at that moment, the possibility of being considered for the Lions was a dream, the young flanker was revolutionizing the established order.
An “Enchanting Bighead”
Since the match against Wales, “Pollock-mania” has intensified.
Videos of his best plays have gone viral, such as his try against the Sale Sharks, and his provocative celebration against Castres.
Pollock is rapidly becoming a cult hero in Northampton.
Pollock is shown as he is. In a recent podcast, when asked if he was a “good guy or a stubborn one”, he replied: “A bit of both, a charming stubborn one”.
If you don’t know him, you want to hate him, but as soon as you get to know him you can’t help but like his energy and personality. He is ridiculously competitive with everything.
A source
On the eve of the Lions team announcement, Northampton shared a video on their social media showing the dressing room at halftime of a match in Dublin.
Pollock, calm but with everyone’s attention, reminded one of a young Owen Farrell on the 2013 Lions tour.
Now, Farrell hopes Pollock will energize the tour. Competition for a spot in the back row has intensified.
Henry Pollock scored two tries in his England debut.
“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough,” Farrell said. “When you see a player performing the way he has, age doesn’t matter. People have been waiting to see if he can do it in the big games, or week in, week out, and it’s there for everyone to see.
