Henry Pollock is a young winger who has emerged from Franklin’s Gardens and is knocking on the door of the England squad.
He may still be a teenager, but Henry Pollock is already emerging as one of the brightest young talents in English rugby. The Northampton Saints back row can play at openside or at number eight and has already produced several Player of the Match performances for his country at both A and U20 levels.
His progress means it’s only a matter of time before he gets a call from Steve Borthwick (or even Gregor Townsend), but in the meantime, here are 10 things to know about the young flanker lighting up the gardens of Franklin.
Read more: Henry Pollock: Meet England’s next big thing
10 facts you need to know about Henry Pollock
1. Henry Pollock was born on January 14, 2005 in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
2. He comes from a family that likes sports. Pollock swam and competed in triathlons growing up, and his older sister, Zoe, is a runner and hurdler at Oxford City and the University of Georgia.
“As a child, I always felt competitive, even in the garden with my friends, brothers and sisters,” Pollock told the Telegraph. “I am… I probably wanted to be the best in every field. I like the aggressive nature (of rugby) and I think I thrive in it. I do my best when I am confrontational and in a crisis.”
3. Pollock started to play scrum-half but was “too stupid” to cause a positional shift. “I used to get on the wrong side of the referees, so one of the coaches said, ‘You have too big a mouth. ‘I’ll give it a 7,’ he said. “It hasn’t moved much since.”
4. He joined Northampton Saints from their under-13 side and has been at the club ever since. He signed his first professional contract in 2023.
5. Pollock made his Premier League debut against Leicester Tigers in November 2023. His European Champions Cup debut came against Castres in December 2024.
6. He was named man of the match three times for England heading into the 2024 Six Nations U20 Championship. Pollock was later named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
7. He won another man-of-the-match award in November 2024 when England A defeated Australia A.
8. Pollock has played for both England U20s and England A, but is also eligible for the Scotland national team as both his parents were born north of the border. Steve Borthwick and Gregor Townsend will both take note…
9. He is studying part-time to obtain a sports management degree at Loughborough University.
10. Pollock’s early heroes at openside included Australia’s Michael Hooper and New Zealand’s Richie McCaw. Closer to home, he also cited former Saints stars Courtney Lawes and Teimana Harrison as inspiration.
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