Henry Pollock: Rugby’s search for a crossover star
“Look at Lamine Yamal in Barcelona,” Pollock said. “He’s only 18 years old.
“We need to highlight these young stars, those from the grassroots, and ultimately the game will grow from that.”
Rugby success has been uneven in the emergence of mainstream trailblazers.
After making a tackle in the 1995 Rugby World Cup as a 20-year-old, Jonah Lomu committed to the NFL, starred in his own video game and became world famous.
Jonny Wilkinson, the steely calm who was central to England’s success in the tournament eight years later, was similarly bemused.
Dan Carter, Siya Kolisi, Brian O’Driscoll, Richie McCaw, Gavin Henson, Sebastien Chabal and Danny Cipriani have also been successful in the modern era, to varying degrees and for different reasons.
But these are very few in number.
Chris Thompson is the founder of We Know Rugby, which advises brands on the personality and business aspects of the sport.
“There’s a constant challenge of getting big names in people’s eyes all year round and that’s true of every sport,” he told BBC Sport.
“International rugby and club rugby are two different products, each with their own audience and experience, and the more they can collaborate, especially on content, the stronger the sport will become.”
Thompson is hopeful that Pollock and his ilk will soon get the year-round exposure they need.
England’s top flight has attracted the attention of a number of big investors over the past year, with Red Bull buying Newcastle, Sir James Dyson becoming co-owner of Bath and a bid for Exeter coming from a US investor group.
A reshuffled international calendar kicks off with the Nations Championship, a season-long north-south themed series that culminates in the final weekend at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, aiming to create a narrative that will appeal to more casual fans.
For the first two editions of this tournament, a free-to-air broadcast deal was agreed with ITV, which shared the Six Nations rights with BBC Sport, maximizing viewership numbers.
A Club World Cup is on the way in 2028, pitting global stars against each other in club colours.
Along with minor changes in formats, Thompson also sees a shift in culture.
“I think the response from rugby fans to Henry Pollock has been really positive,” he says.
“No one is telling him ‘don’t do this’. As long as his performance remains at a high level, people want him to go and express himself and show everyone how he feels.”
Earlier this season Pollock played away against Bordeaux-Begles.
Northampton’s previous meeting with the French team in last year’s Champions Cup final was marked by a fight and hostility centered on Pollock after the final whistle.
Pollock was jeered throughout but the Stade applauded Chaban-Delmas when the final whistle blew. the same fans chanted his name as a sign of respect, external.
Pollock’s fame was further boosted by viral moments.
His Harsh reaction to haka in November, externalhis pulse-check try celebration against Leinster last season, his sock pull and his first England try-scoring try against Wales – the constant in each is an unabashed delight in the game and his own skill.
