Henry Pollock has only been playing professional rugby for a little over a year. Yet he has generated a level of discourse that normally takes players at least half a decade to create. The predictable negativity directed his way does seem over the top. To the point one can only assume the contempt must, in some part, come from the PR agency that represents gadus morhuas (Atlantic cod) – it’s essentially the Industrial Fish Complex at its worst.
Rugby doesn’t like players who ‘carry on’ like footballers. Pollock doesn’t represent the traditional rather dusty morals of his sport, nor the well-trodden path to the Test game. Traditionally you work hard as a youngster, keep your head down and say little until you’re assured of your place. You’re the Victorian child: seen and not heard. But that’s not Pollock at all. Far from the Victorian child, he’s raging about the place like a Victorian landowner.
It’s a situation made even worse by the position he plays. Backrow forwards don’t smile and look at cameras. They certainly don’t look at cameras while they’re scoring – antics like this tend to really anger the village elders. Backrow forwards have hair, but not really hairstyles, and if their teeth do need whitening they simply gargle with the type of bleach is used to coat primary school toilets.
But this is where the Pollock narrative gets muddled. Yes, his flamboyance seems a bit football. Yes, he’s dyed his hair white. Yes, he licks his lips during Haka. And yes, he jumps around on the touchline like a newly opened toy on Christmas morning. But he is also awesome, and that is what opposition supporters really hate.
Let’s be clear, to be hated in rugby isn’t without its charms – in many ways it should be the goal. Only good players receive genuine dislike. And Pollock is certainly that. His impact on the game has been incredible. Every time he enters the field it’s with an energy that could only be replicated by combining the genetic profiles of Ardie Savea, Ben Earl and James Lowe then soaking it in Red Bull.
Pollock’s appearances at Test level tend to come at the 60-minute mark and, without fail, he has changed the game. Pollock has arguably had the most influential early career in the history of English back-rows. He’s created more in 15-minute appearances than some counterparts have produced in entire careers. To see Pollock enter the field is to see a tiger amongst pigeons, not a cat. When he makes his grand entrance, not only does the other team’s pack look a bit unnerved, but so do their backs. What’s particularly unusual about Pollock is even in the heavily structured environs of men’s Test rugby, he brings totally unstructured chaos. He seems capable of running through five-man rucks, scattering players like schoolchildren, then somehow kicking the ball through and making a 15m break.
The other element in this perfect Pollock storm is his rise coincides with – and indeed enhances – England’s reemergence as a top three team. England have only lost one match in 2025 and are putting together a win list virtually every coach in the world would be proud of – Boks included. They once again have a squad dripping in talent and most importantly a pack that contend with the South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland and France. In their starting lineup and bench, England now have enough mass in the front five to allow them to pick a legit, mobile link player – and Pollock is every inch of that.
If his career continues as it should, the 20-year-old will join a spree of great players who were the scourge of rivals fans when they played – yet loved when they retired. These players vary by nation and the period in which they played, but we all have our own list. Many in Wales loathed Martin Johnson as he skippered England to World Cup glory, but there’s not a Welsh supporter alive who wouldn’t love a pint with him now.
Pollock and players like him are the future of rugby union and exactly what the game needs to grow and attract a younger audience. For English kids, this year’s Christmas list will contain a white Pollock shirt and even whiter hair dye to match.
Keep it up, Henry. Only the best are hated.
Pollock is great for rugby in my view, people want to see him play. I think he is definitely the player you hate if he is the opposition but adored if he is your player.
The best players: Lomu, Wilkinson, Habana, Carter, Kolisi, McCaw, Kolbe. None of them are hated. They’re all revered. Pollock is hated because of his lack of respect for the opposition. He’s a quality rugby player but his PR needs work.
Exactly. His antics appeal to a certain demographic, and, quite frankly, I’m glad that I’m not a member.
Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who reads my column. Cheers, Paul
The comparison to Football is meant as a slight against Pollock. What you see is an exuberance fuelled by Testesterone in a man who is only 20 years old. Rugby needs him to promote the game to younger audiences. There are dangers of course, should that exuberance spill over into arrogance.
Weird, us Southern hemisphere fans don’t take much notice of the guys in the north. Good on him, I can’t say I like or dislike him, I just know that his kind of attitude can bite you in the arse. I’ve been around long enough to know this.
Dusty morals of rugby? Perhaps the world could do with a dusting of those dusty morals. But Duane Vermeulen said it best “Just give me one more game against him.”
No good players are not disliked. They praised.
Hasn’t started a single test match yet. Has been great but let’s see how he does the more he plays.
Nonsense - the best are revered. Pillok acts like a ——-. Not my cup of tea, no matter how “good” he is.
I like Henry and think his over exuberance, while probably upsetting to the purists, resonates with his own generation and if that results in more eyes on the game, then I’m all for it.
My only worry is that Henry’s introduction into the nation team during its current run of success won’t last forever and his chippiness won’t be as well received when England’s winning run comes to an end. As an England fan, I obviously hope England continue to build and win, but there will come a time when he’ll have to dial things back.
That would be right after England face the Springboks😉
That’s why everyone hates South Africans. We’re the best too!
Only generating headlines because of British scribes….they are desperate and he is a prime poes. Before 2027, the hype will have faded.
why do south africans hate world rugby?