An England star was discussed by French media before the Six Nations (Image: Patrick Khachfe – RFU, The RFU Collection via Getty Images)
England star Henry Pollock has rapidly emerged as a divisive figure with opposition supporters during his young career. The 21-year-old flanker was crowned Premiership Breakthrough Player of the Season in August following his breakthrough campaign with Northampton.
In March 2025, Pollock scored two tries against Wales on his international debut, becoming England’s youngest-ever Six Nations try scorer. The Saints star’s meteoric rise continued as he helped guide his side to the Champions Cup final in May. During the semi-final clash with Leinster, Pollock taunted the crowd following his first-half try at the Aviva Stadium before celebrating Northampton’s 37-34 triumph by mimicking UFC fighter Conor McGregor’s iconic strut. The victory secured a final showdown with Bordeaux Begles, which the French outfit won 28-20. However, in a discussion before the match, a L’Equipe journalist explained how Pollock had polarised opinions while being one of English rugby’s brightest talents.
“The power of the images and what he exudes is stronger than words,” Guillaume Dufy said on L’Equipe’s Crunch podcast in May. “On the pitch, he’s all you see; he radiates incredible energy and intensity.
“He can do everything with a ball. He can even kick. He has a very English side, very arrogant, very unbearable, which we love to hate.”
He added: “Apart from his bit of a show-off side when he scores, where you sometimes want to slap him, he’s unstoppable. He’s the Jesus of English rugby…In England, he’s their Dupont, their Mbappé, you name it. He’s all anyone talks about.”
After the Champions Cup final loss, Pollock tried to intervene between Fraser Dingwall and Bordeaux’s Matthieu Jalibert but found himself embroiled in another confrontation. Prop Jefferson Poirot grabbed Pollock’s throat and subsequently received a two-week ban while the England flanker was cleared of any misconduct.
Pollock scored two tries on his England debut last March (Image: Dan Mullan – RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)
He has evidently already established himself as a pantomime villain within French rugby circles. Pollock will be hoping to harness that to his and England’s benefit when the two nations clash at the Stade de France at the end of the Six Nations on March 14.
When asked about crowd reactions, Pollock told BBC Sport: “Fans can do what they want, if they want to boo me, then boo me, if they want to cheer for me, then cheer for me. It doesn’t really affect me.
“I’m quite content with myself. My whole philosophy is that I only care what friends, family, coaches and team mates think of me – anyone outside of that circle can have their opinions.”
Pollock has spoken about his relationship with opposition fans (Image: Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Having been a late addition to last year’s Six Nations squad, Pollock is now a more established figure. Following his England debut in the tournament’s final fixture, he is determined to make a greater impression this time round.
“I’m excited to have a full tournament under my belt,” he told BBC Sport. “If I told my 10-year-old self that I’m about to go into a Six Nations, he would have bit your hand off.
“It’s a dream come true to play for your country but to be able to do it in a Six Nations is going to be special. I’m trying to enjoy every moment and take it all in.”