Pollard signs for Brumbies
The Brumbies have confirmed that highly-rated Australian U18 hooker Billy Pollard has committed to Rugby Australia and the Brumbies under a four-year contract with the club.
Pollard will join the Brumbies Academy Development Programme for 2020, including pre-season training time with the Plus500 Brumbies, alongside other Brumbies development players.
Pollard, who had attracted the attention of several high-profile NRL clubs throughout his formative career, has chosen rugby union after a series of strong performances, culminating in a standout display for the young Wallabies in their win over New Zealand.
Playing in the front row, Pollard showed great speed and determination to go the length of the field in the U18 Test match, hauled down just short of the line, a snapshot of the pace, skill and potential that he possesses.
“We are extremely happy to have signed Billy, who we believe is a player with enormous potential,” Plus500 Brumbies Head Coach Dan McKellar commented.
“Like any 18-year-old hooker, Billy is just getting started, but he has the necessary attributes to succeed at Super Rugby level and is very much in the mould of the modern-day hooker.
“In attack he is dynamic, wants the ball in his hands and has tremendous speed and acceleration for a front rower. Defensively he is abrasive and aggressive, loves to compete and enjoys the physical side of the game. These are great natural traits that Billy has.
https://twitter.com/BrumbiesRugby/status/1194344519199789058
“We are excited to work closely with Billy over the next few years to ensure he reaches his full potential and goes on to have a long career with our club.”
Pollard had a choice of a number of clubs, across both codes, but ultimately picked the Brumbies due to their proven track-record of improving young players and giving them a chance to express their talent.
“I am very excited to be able to sign for the Brumbies,” Pollard said of his deal. “The club is well-known for giving young players an opportunity and helping them to develop in their career.
“I am looking forward to working with Dan and Laurie [Fisher] and learning off some of the best front row forwards in the country. The Brumbies set-piece is one of the best around and I can’t wait to get started.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Hopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
6 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
1 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
71 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
71 Go to commentsYep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. As there are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic in Ireland. There has not really had a strong representation for any global sport over the years, and hence arrogance is not endemic to Irish people in this regard. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. If it was said, it would have been said in jest and to pay Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
71 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
4 Go to commentsDaniel Gallan, please for the love of all that is holy, stop writing about rugby. Or at the very least stop telling people you are South African.
21 Go to commentsThis Dr.Rassie 6-2 filth is spreading. We need to ask World Rugby to ban something
1 Go to commentsPity he couldn’t call him a liar to his face, such a brave man.
71 Go to comments“You ain’t counting to 12 or 13 straight after a game, son!” Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t “I reckon if anyone said it they would have said, ‘Hopefully, see you in the final’.” Oh, you “reckon”, do you? You weren’t there, you weren’t part of the conversation but you know what was said… Id10T
71 Go to commentsNZ has such a rich history of quality number nines, and woman beaters.
1 Go to commentsThat’s what happens when you are scared of scrums
3 Go to comments