Lawrence Dallaglio backs ‘special’ England youngster to be late British & Irish Lions bolter

Tom Olver

Published April 1, 2025 12:28pm Updated April 1, 2025 1:32pm

Wales v England - Guinness Six Nations 2025 — Henry Pollock is being tipped for a possible British & Irish Lions call-up this summer (Picture: Getty)

England legend Lawrence Dallaglio has hailed Henry Pollock as a ‘special player’ and insists it’s ‘not too soon’ for the youngster to be selected by the British & Irish Lions.

With the Six Nations done and dusted, attentions have turned to this summer’s eagerly anticipated Lions tour of Australia, where Andy Farrell’s men will aim to replicate the series win under Warren Gatland in 2013.

Farrell named his coaching team for the series last week and the squad – made up of the brightest talent from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – is set to be unveiled on May 8.

One of the key talking points has been Farrell’s possible choice as captain, with Maro Itoje, Caelan Doris, Finn Russell and Jac Morgan among the leading contenders.

Meanwhile, speculation has been rife over potential bolters for trip Down Under – and Pollock has put himself firmly at the centre of that conversation with a string of eye-catching performances for club and country in recent weeks.

Pollock made an instant impact after replacing the injured Alex Dombrandt in England’s Six Nations squad, coming off the bench to cross over twice on debut in the side’s thumping 68-14 victory over Wales.

The 20-year-old back-row followed this up with a phenomenal individual display in Northampton Saints’ 27-24 defeat to Sale last Friday night to further strengthen his case for a Lions call-up.

Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints - Gallagher Premiership Rugby — Pollock further strengthened his case with a magnificent performance in Northampton’s loss to Sale (Picture: Getty)

‘It’s not too soon for him to go on the Lions tour,’ England’s 2003 World Cup hero Dallaglio told RugbyPass of Pollock’s chances.

‘Will Greenwood went on the 1997 tour to South Africa as an uncapped player, and if you are good enough, you are old enough.

‘Pollock has proved at every level that he has what it takes, and while it is a very competitive position, he is in the conversation as much as anyone else.

Sale Sharks v Leicester Tigers - Gallagher Premiership Rugby — Dallaglio went on three Lions tours during his playing days (Picture: Getty)

‘He has all the skills and, with the fairly hard grounds and with 6-2 splits on the replacements bench, you wouldn’t be uncomfortable with Pollock or Ben Earl to bring on and play centre or wing. I played on the wing for Chris Oti many years ago!

‘He is a very likeable young man, and there is a confidence that some people would consider a bit of arrogance, but there is nothing wrong with that if it is channelled in the right direction.

‘It is not about talking the talk, it is about walking the walk and he does a bit of both.

‘I have been refreshed to see a young back-row forward with a bit of swagger, a bit of chat who is not afraid to speak to the referee and not afraid to have a word in a teammate’s ear and also the opposition’s.’

British & Irish Lions Coaching Announcement — Lions head coach Farell names his squad on May 8 (Picture: Getty)

Dallaglio – who went on three Lions tours – believes Pollock’s breakthrough has come at the perfect time for Northampton following the recent departures of Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlum for France.

‘He is an exceptionally gifted player and he has had the most incredible season and had been talked about for some time by Northampton, where there is a wonderful academy, as one of a number of players who are coming through.

‘In many ways, it reminds me of the Wasps team, where we had so many academy players like Alex King and Will Green who came through together, and if you can keep them for a long time, then, ultimately, you will have a successful club.

‘Northampton are the English champions by the skin of their teeth and have had a challenging year, having lost players like Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlam, but what they have in Pollock is a guy who has really stepped up.

‘It is not very often that you get to play for your country and score two tries on your debut, having said you would get one.

‘Even his performance against Sale – where he tried to lift the team – no one else was at that level. The try he scored was just out of the top drawer, and he is a special player.’

Ireland v Scotland - 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B — Hamilton believes Pollock has a strong chance of being selected (Picture: Getty)

Former Scotland lock Jim Hamilton echoed Dallaglio’s comments while discussing potential bolters on The Rugby Pod, saying: ‘I’m telling you now, I can see Henry Pollock going, regardless of the talent that is littered in the back-row.

‘If I was to put my name to a bolter going or an outside bet… he’s probably not even an outside bet.

‘What he did in that Wales game, albeit England were winning comfortably, but how he’s come back off the back of it and there’s a real kind of energy and movement behind this young lad on social media as well and the brand and everything around that.

‘But the way that he’s played these last two weeks… wow. I know it’s the Premiership, high scoring but wowzers, wowzers. In everything, both sides of the ball.

‘If I was a betting man… he’s 20 years old, he’s just 20. And he’s in the back-row, the most congested position. If I’m to make a shout, I reckon he goes.’