Henry Pollock (rugby union)

Henry Pollock
Pollock in 2024
Date of birth (2005-01-14) 14 January 2005[1]
Place of birthBanbury, England
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Weight105 kg (231 lb)[3]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2022– Northampton Saints 27 (45)
2023–2024 → Bedford Blues (loan) 5 (15)
Correct as of 3 May 2025
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2024–2025 England U20 12 (30)
2024– England A 1 (0)
2025– England 1 (10)
2025 British & Irish Lions 0 (0)
Correct as of 15 March 2025

Henry Pollock (born 14 January 2005) is an English rugby union player who plays for Northampton Saints and the England national team.[4]

Early life

Pollock attended Beachborough Prep School in Westbury, Buckinghamshire and Stowe School. He joined the Northampton Saints Academy at under-13 level. He also played for Buckingham RFC. He was captain of the Northampton Saints under-18s side that reached the 2023 Academy League final.[5][6]

Career

He made his debut for the senior Northampton Saints team in the Premiership Rugby Cup during the 2022-23 season. In October 2022, he became the club's youngest try scorer in the professional era. He signed a first professional contract with the club in the spring of 2023. He made his debut for the side in the Rugby Premiership against Leicester Tigers, in November 2023, and also played 5 times on loan in the Rugby Championship for Bedford Blues during the 2023-24 season.[6][5][7]

In December 2024, he scored a try on his Champions Cup debut in a 38-8 victory over Castres Olympique in the opening round of the 2024-25 tournament.[8] That month, he signed a new multi-year contract with Northampton.[9] In March 2025, he scored his first Premiership try after a chip and chase during a 27–24 loss to Sale Sharks.[10] In the Champions Cup quarter finals, he scored two tries again against Castres during a 51–16 victory.[11] In April 2025, he was nominated for Champions Cup Player of the Year 2025.[12] In May 2025, he scored a try during the Champions Cup semi-finals in a historic 37–34 victory over Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.[13]

International career

England

He captained the England U18 side.[14] He scored a hat trick on his debut for the England U20 side against Italy U20 in February 2024.[15] He was subsequently named player of the tournament for helping England win the 2024 Six Nations Under 20s Championship title.[16] He was part of the England U20 side that won the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa.[17][18] In November 2024, he was called up to the England A national rugby union team for the first time and put in a Man of the Match performance against Australia A at the Twickenham Stoop.[19]

In January 2025, following an injury to Alex Dombrandt, he was called up to the senior England squad for the first time ahead of the opening game of their 2025 Six Nations Championship against Ireland.[20] In March 2025, he scored two tries off the bench on his senior debut during a 14-68 victory over Wales in the final round of the tournament.[21]

British & Irish Lions

On May 8th 2025, Henry was the youngest player selected for the British & Irish Lions squad for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.[22] In July 2025, having originally been named in the starting lineup, he sustained a tight calf prior to kickoff against the Waratahs. He was replaced by Scott Cummings.[23]

List of international tries

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 15 March 2025 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales  Wales 68–14 2025 Six Nations Championship
2

as of 15 March 2025

Honours

England U20

Personal life

His parents are called John and Hester. His sister, Zoe, is a 400m hurdler at the University of Georgia and he has one brother, Angus.

References

  1. ^ "Henry Pollock". Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Henry Pollock". All.Rugby. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Henry Pollock". World Rugby. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Henry Pollock Profile". England Rugby.
  5. ^ a b Morgan, Charlie (7 February 2024). "Henry Pollock interview: The England U20 hat-trick hero already on senior team's radar". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b Vickers, Tom (23 September 2023). "The big interview: Saints prospect Henry Pollock talks to Tom Vickers". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Pollock 'physicality' impresses Saints coach". BBC Sport. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Champions Cup: Pollock scores as Northampton beat Castres - radio & text". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Back-row Pollock, 19, signs 'multi-year' Saints deal". BBC Sport. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Pollock an 'inspiring' talent - Saints boss Dowson". BBC Sport. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  11. ^ Mann, Mantej (11 April 2025). "Saints thrash Castres to set up Leinster rematch". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  12. ^ "Investec Player of the Year". ECPR. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  13. ^ Kitson, Robert. "Henry Pollock revels in 'special win' over Leinster in hardest game of his life". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  14. ^ "Fans split after England u18 captains X-Rated interview". Rugby Dump. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Under-20 Six Nations: Henry Pollock hat-trick secures bonus-point win for England over Italy". BBC Sport. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Star in the making wins 2024 U20 Six Nations player of the touenamnt". Planet Rugby. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  17. ^ Meagher, Gerard (19 July 2024). "England dominate France to claim fourth World Rugby under-20 title". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  18. ^ "England overpower France to win Under-20 World Cup". BBC Sport. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  19. ^ Morgan, Charlie (6 November 2024). "Gabriel Ibitoye called up to England A squad for Australia fixture". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  20. ^ Hamilton, Tom (21 January 2025). "Six Nations: England facing injury crisis before Ireland clash". ESPN. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
  21. ^ Calvert, Lee (15 March 2025). "Wales v England: Six Nations 2025 – live". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  22. ^ Meagher, Gerard. "Lions squad 2025: electric Pollock forces way in but Owen Farrell not among initial picks". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  23. ^ Kitson, Robert. "Alex Mitchell helps error-prone Lions edge past gritty NSW Waratahs". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
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