England rugby star Henry Pollock has captured widespread attention with a series of viral moments, including his dramatic Champions Cup final altercation and memorable response to the haka. As England prepares to face Wales in the Six Nations this weekend, Pollock stands out as a key figure in Steve Borthwick's squad, which aims to build momentum for future World Cup challenges.
Rising Star in English Rugby
Under the guidance of coach Steve Borthwick, England appears to be cultivating an extraordinary team dynamic, with emerging talents like Cardiff-born Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, and Henry Pollock leading the next generation. Pollock, in particular, has shone brightly over the past twelve months, becoming a crowd-puller who attracts new spectators to the sport regardless of fan allegiance.
Last year, Pollock made his Test debut against Wales in the Six Nations, contributing to England's resounding 68-14 victory at the Principality Stadium. This year's rematch takes place on home ground at Allianz Stadium, with Pollock entering the fray not only with a year of Test rugby experience but also a British and Irish Lions tour under his belt, following the legendary team's defeat of Australia last summer.
Gavin Henson Surprise Admission
In a quickfire interview ahead of the Test series against Australia, Pollock participated in a challenge to identify legendary Lions players. While he confidently recognised Shane Williams, he stumbled when shown a photograph of Welsh icon Gavin Henson. Pollock admitted, "I don't know who that is. Sorry, I don't know who that is." When the interviewer exclaimed "Gavin Henson!" Pollock responded, "Gavin Henson? Never heard of him."
This admission left Welsh rugby supporters and the wider rugby community astonished, as Henson was among the most celebrated and gifted sportspeople in Britain during his prime, often dubbed the David Beckham of rugby. Henson is particularly remembered for his stellar display against England during the 2005 Grand Slam campaign, which many consider one of the greatest Six Nations performances ever.
Champions Cup Final Drama
Pollock and his Northampton Saints reached the Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Begles last season, though the French side ultimately claimed the trophy. Pollock had been instrumental in their journey, but tempers flared after the final whistle involving former French Six Nations star Jefferson Poirot.
Poirot seized Pollock by the throat, later receiving a two-match suspension for his conduct. Recounting the incident on TNT Sports' Rugby Breakdown programme, Pollock explained, "The whistle goes, and obviously it's pretty heated. I think Dingers [Fraser Dingwall] and Jalibert were pushing and shoving. I went over to Jalibert, pushed him and got involved and was like: 'I'm not letting Dingers be on his own here.'"
He continued, "And then as I'm doing this - I didn't know this in the moment, Fin [Smith] was looking around - apparently the loosehead [Poirot] was on the bench and beelined it straight to me. So we're in this, and he basically grabs my neck and gets his hands on my throat and squeezes my neck. I wasn't happy with this, I was pretty angry. I managed to rip his shirt, and then the bit that you see is as he turns away, I push him, and then his friend comes in. We had to do statements after. It was mad, you've just won the Champions Cup and the first thing you want to do is run on and strangle a 20-year-old."
Lip-Licking Haka Reaction
In another incident that captured widespread attention, Pollock stood alongside his teammates during the autumn internationals with an unusual reaction to the haka. England hosted New Zealand in London as underdogs heading into the encounter.
Pollock chose to lick his lips whilst the cameras were focused squarely on him, creating compelling footage. He and his colleagues also adopted a V-shaped formation, reminiscent of England's famous response during the 2019 World Cup, where they arranged themselves in a V-formation with a grinning Owen Farrell before defeating New Zealand and reaching the final. In this match, England proceeded to defeat New Zealand in a remarkable performance, adding to Pollock's growing legend.
