'I'm not scared of confrontational moments'

"I wanted to be everywhere, to be that annoying person that gets it wrong, who gets in your face and works really hard, to be the biggest nuisance you can possibly be."

Henry Pollock is recalling the moments he played mini-rugby for Buckingham RUFC and school rugby at Beachborough and Stowe as he prepares to play his first game in the European Champions Cup for Northampton Saints.

The 19-year-old is one of the most exciting prospects to come through the Saints academy in recent years, and having made his Premiership debut against Leicester Tigers a year ago, he has already made five league appearances this season.

But rugby wasn't the only sport he played growing up.

"Dad travelled with work, so it was me, mum and my brother and sister, and we did loads of sports: swimming on Mondays before school, running on Tuesdays, driving around the country doing triathlons; there was always something happening. There was never a dull moment," he told BBC Look East.

"Mum is the reason I love sport. She introduced me to fitness. We would wake up at 5.30am for a two-hour swim session on a Saturday and then go and do a triathlon at school. It was mad, but looking back now it made me who I am."

There was, though, no time to feel exhausted following his mum Hester's sporting regime - Sundays were a time for mini-rugby with his dad.

"You'd get your kit out ready on a Saturday night and wake up excited on Sunday morning. He would make me breakfast, and we'd drive off to rugby together.

"There was no pressure; you played with no fear or commitment; you'd play with your mates and get a bacon butty afterwards," he said.

'Extremely confident and vocal'

Henry Pollock started playing rugby at Beachborough school and Buckingham RUFC

Nick Glister coached Pollock as a junior at Buckingham RUFC and recalled: "He is a really nice lad - a bit cheeky but always polite.

"He was respectful and keen to learn. He has always been extremely confident and vocal and was very supportive of his teammates.

"Although quite small when younger, he was super-fit, very strong, and had a superb rugby brain, making him a natural leader."

The flanker then moved to Stowe School and was coached by Grant Seely, a former Saints player.

And current pupils will be keeping an eye on how Saints - and Pollock - fare against French club Castres on Saturday.

"As a 14-year-old he was like a spaniel - all action and popping up all over the pitch. He then started to really develop in the sixth form and became a real force. And his profile rocketed," said Seely.

"There's never a shortage of Henry's highlight clips being shown around the school after each weekend."

Whirlwind 18 months

Henry Pollock with his parents, John and Hester

Pollock joined Northampton's senior academy in 2023, having first played for the club's under-13s.

Fast forward to December 2024, and the back row is one of the rising stars of English rugby.

In a whirlwind 18 months, as well as games for Saints, he has won back-to-back Six Nations and World Championship titles with England Under-20s and was player of the match for England A against Australia in November.

"It's been a crazy time," he confessed.

"Winning the under-20s titles was something I will never forget, and memories I wish I could relive all over again.

"I have exceeded my expectations these past few months, but you put your trust in the coaches. They give you confidence, so you're always striving for more."

Pollock's confident, aggressive, confrontational style is earning rave reviews.

England team manager Richard Hill, a former back row himself, has been in touch to offer advice, and it may be that a senior England call-up is not too far away.

"I want to keep playing well for Saints, and if the opportunity comes for England, I'll take it, but I am not thinking too far ahead," said Pollock.

"There's been a lot of highlight reel stuff, but I'm still a back row who works hard on his basics. I'm prepared to do the graft.

"The confrontation (element) is down to playing in the backyard with my brother, getting in fights. I'm aggressive, I work hard, and I'm not scared of confrontational moments," he said.

"You don't go looking for them, but if they come and it happens, don't be the one who shies away from it."

Across Northamptonshire there are now young mini-rugby players wearing Pollock's black headband trying to emulate him.

"I don't know why they want to be me; it's crazy. But I'm very grateful for that," he added.