Henry Pollock’s rise from obscurity to Lions call-up stuns English rugby

From Champions Cup breakout to Lions squad in five months, Henry Pollock’s journey transforms England’s back row landscape.

Henry Pollock speaks to the media during a Northampton Saints training session and press conference at cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton, England, on May 20, 2025. Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images

By Randy Ahmad and Adila Ghina

Five months ago, Henry Pollock was barely a blip on the radar of England’s national team setup. Now, the Northampton Saints flanker is not only a full England international but also a newly minted British and Irish Lions squad member, with a Champions Cup final appearance awaiting him in Cardiff. The story of Pollock’s sudden ascent—from a promising youth to a national sensation—has become one of the standout narratives of the 2024–25 rugby season.

Pollock first drew attention in January when he scored two tries against Stade Français during the Champions Cup pool stage. At that point, there was little indication that he would play any role in the upcoming Six Nations, let alone become a cornerstone of England’s forward pack or a Lions tourist. However, in the span of just five months, the 20-year-old’s relentless performances, dynamic presence, and eye for the try line have rewritten the script.

From club standout to international sensation

Pollock’s call-up to the England senior squad was confirmed in March, just weeks after his 20th birthday. He made an instant impact, scoring twice on his debut against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff—an arena he will revisit this weekend for the Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Bègles.

His Six Nations bow marked a pivotal turning point, as his ball-carrying and defensive grit turned heads both inside and outside the national team camp. In total, Pollock has crossed the try line six more times for Northampton since that January double, including one in the emphatic semi-final win over Leinster—four-time European champions—helping the Saints secure a place in the final for the first time in over two decades.

The speed of his progression was such that former England back-rower Lewis Moody admitted Pollock wasn’t even being seriously considered for Lions selection until the final few weeks before the squad announcement.

“It was only really in the last six weeks leading up to the Lions that his place was being considered,” Moody told AFP. “Then, all of a sudden, he went from being in the mix to, in my opinion, an absolute nailed-on pick.”

Pollock-mania takes over English rugby

Back in Northampton, Pollock’s influence has transcended the pitch. The buzz around him—dubbed "Pollock-mania" by fans—has grown with every match. Children wear replica jerseys with his name, supporters don black headbands in tribute, and his blend of humility and confidence has made him a social media star.

Teammate and England winger Tommy Freeman spoke of Pollock’s rise during an appearance on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast.

"I love his rise, it's awesome to see," Freeman said. "But it’s painful when he comes up to you and says, 'Mate, you have 20 caps for England. I’ve got one. And you’ve got 50,000 followers—I’ve got 111,000.'"

It’s a testament not only to Pollock’s on-field achievements but also his off-field charisma. That connection with fans, coupled with his dynamic performances, has solidified his status as a new face of English rugby.

A new golden generation at Saints

Pollock is just one member of a broader surge in talent at Northampton. Alongside fellow Lions call-ups Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, and the aforementioned Freeman, Pollock is part of a group that blends entertaining rugby with results. Their chemistry and youth have made the Saints a team to watch, not just in the Premiership but across Europe.

“The fact that you have a few guys that come through at the same age, able to support each other—that’s massive,” said Moody, emphasizing the importance of this young core developing together. It has helped build a culture of competitiveness and camaraderie at Northampton that is now bearing fruit on the continental stage.

Their unity, sharpened by domestic and European competition, has powered Saints to the cusp of a historic achievement: winning their first Champions Cup since 2000.

Cardiff beckons once more

For Pollock, Saturday’s final at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will be filled with meaning. It was on that very field, just two months earlier, that he burst onto the international scene with a brace of tries against Wales. Now he returns to the Welsh capital not as a hopeful, but as a star.

“Those memories are very fond,” Pollock said on Tuesday. “I look back on that day—it was quite a blur. It’ll be cool to go back and see the stadium again in ‘real life’ and hopefully relive those good memories.”

His excitement for the final is palpable. “It’s every rugby kid’s dream to play in these European finals and these big stages,” he added. “I can’t wait to get it started.”

With both his club’s European glory on the line and a Lions tour to prepare for, the next chapter in Henry Pollock’s journey is already taking shape. His emergence has offered English rugby a jolt of optimism, and if his trajectory continues, Pollock could be a defining figure for the national team and the Lions in the years ahead.

The question now is no longer whether he belongs—but just how high he can climb.

More from Rugby coverage

• Matthieu Jalibert set to shine in Champions Cup final amid France snub
• Fijian rugby star Josaia Raisuqe dies after train collision in France
• France eyes Six Nations Grand Slam after comeback win over Italy