Henry Pollock is Branded Rugby’s version of Luke Littler, because the English breakthrough sensation reflects on the call-up of Leeuwen and it says: “I’m not going in my shell”

Henry Pollock’s rise from Academy Player to British & Irish Lion and the youngest forward tourist for 89 years has brought him comparisons with Darts Ace Luke Littler In Northampton.

Littler, 18, is Pollock’s Junior for two years.

In addition to the couple with supreme talent in their respective areas, both also have the invaluable capacity to be able to transcend their sport and attract a new generation of young fans.

Pollock is certainly the new breakthrough star of the English rugby.

His remarkable climb, which only has comparisons with those of Littler, continued this week when he was mentioned as part of Andy Farrell’s Lions Touring Party.

Pollock will not die, wonder in Australia this summer.

“I’m not going to enter my shell quickly,” said the 20-year-old, who thinks about his lion’s call for the first time.

“I feel honored. It just feels like a dream to be honest. ‘

Pollock is right to describe his journey as hardly credible. Rugby players, especially those in the peloton, do not climb the ladder as quickly as he has.

It is virtually unheard of.

But the Saints Tyro has shown that everything is possible this season. And more importantly, its shape has completely earned the selection of lions.

Farrell just couldn’t ignore him.

“When he came through the academy last year, we knew he would be a quality player, but we just didn’t know how fast,” said another Northhampton Lion in Alex Mitchell about Pollock. “He had everything – the energy, the talent, the mentality.

“At the beginning of the year he had difficulty getting to the saints. But as soon as he got his chance, he accepted it.

“He loves the spotlight. He is so confident. He is clearly a quality player. Stories like this, similar to Littler, are great. People love it. He is full of heart and is just himself. ‘

On Thursday in the O2 Arena in London, the loudest cheers of the day of those present was reserved for the announcement of Lions when the name of Pollock was read. Pollock and Mitchell were accompanied by two more saints in Fin Smith and Tommy Freeman in the 38-man team of head coach Farrell.

The four belonged to 13 Englishmen. After they had drunk each other in Franklin’s gardens while they viewed the announcement live, Pollock and Co covered the house of the Northhampton captain Fraser Dingwall for a party.

Dingwall put his own disappointment aside to miss to host with a selection of Marks & Spencer nibbling on the menu.

The players roast the moment with champagne and beer.

Pollock could still end a European winner the season. Northampton will compete against Bordeaux in the Investec Champions Cup final on 24 May.

Then the lions come.

The former Beachborough and Stowe student has become accustomed to disturb the pecking of rugby in his short career so far.

Now he plans to do the same under. Pollock believes that he can challenge his more experienced colleagues for a rear place in the tests with Australia.

And based on what he has done so far, you wouldn’t bet against him.

“I don’t think the coaches would have chosen me unless they thought so,” said Pollock.

“The past year was crazy, a whirlwind. Everything came so quickly.

‘But I’m definitely going on the Tour to try to play. I don’t want to sit there and look. ‘

Wing Freeman, a try machine for club and country this season, said about Pollock: ‘He just nails, right? It’s incredible. He is a great character.

‘You want to give him S ***, but that is not possible. Until he really plays, you can’t. He is a legend. I only hope it will continue and he will continue to do his thing and struggles about the way he does that. I think rugby needs it.

‘I am not saying it is in a bad place, but it needs characters. It needs people to interest. ‘

Pollock marked his full debut in England with two attempts against Wales in the Six Nations.

It is remarkable to think that he has become a lion after playing just 32 minutes test rugby. At the start of this season he was an English player under 20 and with the Saints in the Premiership Rugby Cup.

But he quickly grew and grown.

Pollock’s superlative version for Northampton in their famous semi-final victory of Champions Cup in Leinster in Dublin sealed his Lions Place.

Northampton is now selling the trademark Black Headband from Pollock in their club shop and it would be foolish De Leeuwen to also present their own series of headwear.

The Pollock mania is not going anywhere.

In fact, it could still go to a whole new level in the coming weeks.

That can only be a good thing for the man himself, English rugby, Northhampton, the Lions and the game as a whole.

‘It is important to be myself. I don’t want to go to environments and change, “said Pollock.

“I remember that I had viewed the 2017 Lions Tour to New -Zeeland in a holiday bar with my father and brother and thought:” God this is sick “. It’s all you want as a rugby player.

‘It is the pinnacle of the sport, the highest honor you can reach. I am so happy for all the other saints who have been picked. It is so cool to be able to do it with those guys.

“I’m just enthusiastic about what the next step is.”