'Rugby is kind of at a junction here': Henry Pollock on rugby values

Showman or show-off? While Henry Pollock’s rugby ability is without question, his antics on the pitch have divided opinion.

Despite his tender years, the 20-year-old relishes being the centre of attention and expressing himself in whichever way takes his mood.

In Northampton’s 51-16 Investec Champions Cup quarter-final win against Castres, this took the form of baiting the opposition in the act of scoring each of his two tries by delaying touching the ball down in the in-goal area.

For the second, the dynamic England U20 back-rower went one step further by pretending to shoot the ball, basketball-style, over the head of an opponent.

Pollock is unapologetic for his actions despite the outrage from some rugby fans that he’s being disrespectful

“It’s not pre-determined, it’ll all just be off the top of my head,” he said.

“I am just being myself, I guess. If you like it, you like it. If not, then I guess don’t watch it.”

In a recent interview with The Daily Telegraph, Bath attack coach Lee Blackett talked widely about how rugby had to “bring out the players’ personalities.’

And Pollock, a nominee for the Champions Cup Player of the Year, subscribes to the view that rugby needs to be more entertaining to appeal to a wider spectrum of fans and bring more money into the game.

“I think if you look at football, there is lots of that, and there are lots of kinds of characters and big role models that people kind of want to buy tickets and go and watch and buy shirts from,” he said.

“Rugby is kind of at a junction here, where they need to do something new and they need more characters in the game, that fans can kind of warm to.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

4

Draws

0

Wins

1

Average Points scored

36

22

First try wins

100%

Home team wins

60%

Pollock recognises that by acting the way he does has put a target on his back. And while he says he never pre-plans what he does, you’d bet the celebration won’t be just a simple handshake if he scores a seventh Champions Cup try of the season in the semi-final against Leinster this weekend.

“It does kind of come with a target on your head, but I am just trying to enjoy my rugby, and I kind of relish those moments anyway.

“I am looking forward to it. It’s a cool place to play against some world-class players, so I’m just excited.”