3 h. ago Believe the hype: make Pollock the Lions midweek captain and watch him flourish | Ugo Monye

Northampton flanker brings energy and excitement and can thrive if given the honour and responsibility by Andy FarrellA couple of months ago, after Henry Pollock scored his first Premiership try against Sale in what is sure to be a contender for try of the season, I got a little excited. I called Phil Dowson – someone I have known since he was 19 – to speak to him about this star in the making. I asked if I was getting carried away with myself. Phil said he is a good kid who works hard on his game, and the next day I’m thinking about Pollock as a midweek captain for the British & Irish Lions.Fast forward two months and I’m of the same opinion. This isn’t me getting swept up in the hype, and that certainly isn’t to say Pollock cannot force his way into the Lions Test team or squad, but just give him the responsibility and let him flourish. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago Pollock a proud Lion after ‘nailing it’ for Northampton and England

A call-up from Andy Farrell for the young flanker crowns a remarkable breakthrough year with club and countryThese are good times at Franklin’s Gardens. Five days after the squad celebrated one of the great victories against Leinster, four of them were picked by the British & Irish Lions. The atmosphere around the old ground has been electric ever since. And while you would expect the quartet, Fin Smith, Henry Pollock, Tommy Freeman, and Alex Mitchell, to be overjoyed, what’s more telling is how happy everyone else at the club seems to be on their behalf. The video of the team celebrating the news has already gone viral, and it turns out that on the night after the squad announcement, Fraser Dingwall had them all around to his house for a celebration dinner.Dingwall, of course, had an outside shot at making the Lions squad himself, but swallowed whatever disappointment he felt after being left out and opened a couple of bottles of champagne for the occasion. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago British & Irish Lions: Henry Pollock 'hype' after solo try made him believe in call

Henry Pollock was named as a British and Irish Lion on Thursday and the Northampton sensation begun believing he might get the call after a phenomenal try away at Sale

Politics

17 h. ago Henry Pollock vows to be himself as Lions pick sparks comparison to Luke Littler

Pollock has been selected just three months after competing in the Under-20 Six Nations for England.

Politics

22 h. ago Brian O’Driscoll tips Henry Pollock to ‘thrive’ on British and Irish Lions tour

The Northampton forward has taken English rugby by storm this season.

Politics

28 h. ago Farrell’s Lions squad has the flexibility and talent to be highly competitive | Robert Kitson

Australia is no country for old men so the exclusion of Owen Farrell and selection of Henry Pollock will help the causeAt long last, significant smoke has also emerged from the British & Irish Lions’ chimney. Maro Itoje will be leading a 38-strong squad to Australia and a couple of the names on the list would raise any cardinal’s eyebrows. Henry Pollock and Marcus Smith will be heading down under with their head coach, Andy Farrell, clearly keen to make an immediate impact next month.Farrell has chosen a hefty cohort of 15 Irishmen alongside 13 Englishmen, eight Scots and two Welsh representatives, but the inclusion of the 20-year-old Pollock sends a clear signal to Australia that the 2025 Lions will be neither geriatric pussycats nor obsessive slaves to conservatism. The squad should contain enough flexibility to cope with most eventualities and sufficient talent to be highly competitive. Continue reading...

Politics

39 h. ago He’s ready to compete – Henry Pollock tipped to shine for Lions by Andy Farrell

The 20-year-old rising star of English rugby has been picked in the 38-man touring party.

Politics

42 h. ago Henry Pollock’s rapid rise continues with British and Irish Lions selection

The 20-year-old has been included in a 38-man touring party bound for Australia this summer despite only making his England debut in March.

Politics

43 h. ago Lions squad 2025: electric Pollock forces way in but no space for Owen Farrell

Andy Farrell installs Itoje as captain for Australia tourLeinster provide record 12 players in 38-strong squadHenry Pollock has been included in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer, capping a remarkable rise for the Northampton back-rower, but there is no place for Owen Farrell or another former England captain, Jamie George.Pollock, 20, is the standout name in Andy Farrell’s 38-man squad that, as revealed by the Guardian, is captained by Maro Itoje. When his name was read out by the Lions chair, Ieuan Evans, at a live event at the O2 in front of about 2,000 spectators, Pollock received by far the largest cheer. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Heartwarming reaction as Henry Pollock mobbed after British and Irish Lions call

Northampton Saints have four of their players heading to Australia for the British and Irish Lions tour as Henry Pollock received the love of his team-mates when the squad was announced

Events

44 h. ago British & Irish Lions: Henry Pollock in, Owen Farrell out and Maro Itoje captain for tour of Australia – live

All the latest as Andy Farrell’s touring party is unveiledEmail Niall your thoughts | Sign up for The BreakdownThis will be the Lions’ first tour of Australia since 2013, when the tourists prevailed 2-1. Warren Gatland’s side won 23-21 in Brisbane, lost 16-15 in Melbourne and then roared to a 41-16 victory in the Sydney decider.The Lions will play 10 fixtures this summer – one in Dublin and the rest in Australia. Here’s the full list of opponents: Continue reading...

Society

44 h. ago Lions 2025 squad announced: Maro Itoje named captain as Henry Pollock gets the nod

England and Saracens skipper is the first player of colour to be given the armband

Politics

44 h. ago British & Irish Lions squad named as Maro Itoje picked as captain for Australia tour

Maro Itoje has been named as the captain for the British and Irish Lions with Andy Farrell backing the England skipper whilst also selecting Northampton hotshot Henry Pollock

Politics

68 h. ago Who is Henry Pollock? How England’s young sensation bolted into Lions contention

The 20-year-old flanker is uber-confident and uber-athletic - and has made a compelling case for British and Irish Lions selection

Politics

5 d. ago Northampton give Andy Farrell much to ponder before Lions unveiling

Henry Pollock impresses but can the British & Irish Lions head coach afford to leave him out the squad on ThursdayOne of the all-time great club knockout results could yet have big implications in the coming days. Northampton will now feel they have a genuine chance of lifting the Champions Cup for the first time in quarter of a century while Andy Farrell suddenly has much to ponder before Thursday’s British & Irish Lions squad announcement in London.Just as the Saints fully deserve to be contesting this month’s final against French challengers Bordeaux-Beglès so the prospects of several of their players have been significantly enhanced. It is now less a question, for example, of whether Henry Pollock and Fin Smith could make the plane and more whether Farrell can afford to leave them behind. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Henry Pollock revels in ‘special win’ over Leinster in hardest game of his life

Saints beat Irish province to make Champions Cup finalPhil Dowson says his players enhanced Lions prospectsNorthampton hope their extraordinary semi-final win over Leinster will be a springboard to further personal and collective success in the coming weeks. The Saints director of rugby, Phil Dowson, also believes several of his players have “undoubtably” enhanced their British & Irish Lions selection chances before Thursday’s tour squad announcement.Henry Pollock and Fin Smith, along with hat-trick try-scorer Tommy Freeman, could not have made a better impression on a high-pressure stage and Dowson believes Pollock’s exuberance is beneficial to any team. “It’s infectious and spreads throughout the team,” said Dowson. “Leinster are one of the best sides in Europe and the world. For our players to perform on that stage and execute under that pressure speaks volumes for them.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Rugby fans say same thing after what rising England star did after scoring

England international Henry Pollock scored a brace against Castres but his celebrations have garnered attention

Sport

3 w. ago Northampton set up Leinster rematch after Henry Pollock batters Castres

Quarter-final: Northampton 51-16 CastresYoung flanker dazzles with two tries in Champions CupWhat is the East Midlands equivalent of deja vu? For the second season in succession Northampton are into the Champions Cup semi-finals and have booked themselves a trip to Dublin to face Leinster. Last time they came within three points of victory so, on paper at least, there is still a chance that Saints can march all the way to next month’s final in Cardiff.All the evidence would suggest, though, that Leinster are a more formidable force this year than last while Northampton had be initially resolute to see off a hard-edged Castres team who competed strongly until two tries in five minutes early in the second half from the fit-again George Furbank and the man of the moment Henry Pollock cracked their resistance. Continue reading...

Politics