Handre Pollard pays his dues for Leicester’s Premiership play-offs

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Published on 2nd June 2025 | Leave a response

Springboks World Cup-winning No 10 Handre Pollard proved he is worth every pound paid in his three seasons at English Premiership Club Leicester Tigers.

Back-to-back World Cup winner Pollard, who also has a World Cup bronze (2015) to go with his World Cup golds (2019 and 2023), left Montpellier for Leicester two seasons ago after a four year tenure at the French club that was one of torment and torture through injury and Covid 19.

Pollard would leave Montpellier having played in a winning EPCR Challenge Cup final, but his four seasons were among his most troubled in terms of injury.

He sought redemption at Leicester – and got it. He has been a jewel for the English club. He is still just 31 years-old.

Pollard will return to the Bulls in South Africa, where he started his professional career, but he will look to do so on the back of a Premiership high in the next fortnight.

Leicester have been the beneficiaries of the most active time in Pollard’s professional career.

The numbers don’t lie.

Pollard at Montpellier: 29 matches, 19 starts, 52 minutes a game and six points a game (2019-2022).

Pollard’s last three matches for the club, as a replacement totalled 20 minutes, six, two and 12 respectively and that included the Top 14 semi-final and final, with the final lost to Castres.

Pollard at Leicester: 52 matches, 49 starts, 68 minutes a game and nine points a game (2022-2025)

Pollard at the Bulls: 62 matches, 51 starts, 65 minutes a game and 10 points a game (2013-2018)

Pollard at the Springboks: 83 matches, 61 starts, 59 minutes a game and 9.3 points a game ( 2014-2025)

*Pollard spent 3 months in Japan in 2015/2016 season and played seven matches for Red Hurricanes Osaka.

Pollard played for Western Province u13s in 2007 and, as the captain of Paarl Gim, he captained WP under 16s and WP under 18s in 2010, 2011 and 2012. He also captained the SA schools under 18s in 2011 and 2012.

Handré Pollard’s Youth Career: A South African Rugby Prodigy

Pollard youth career is the story of a generational rugby talent who dominated every level he played, long before becoming a Springboks World Cup winner, Pollard set himself apart as one of the finest young players in world rugby.

2012 IRB Junior World Championship – A Schoolboy Among Young Men

Still in his final year of high school, Pollard was selected for the South Africa Under-20 team competing at the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship on home soil. He remains the only schoolboy ever to play for the SA U20s.

Although he didn’t play the opening match against Ireland, Pollard started the next four fixtures, proving instrumental to the Baby Boks’ title charge:

5 conversions vs. Italy
4 conversions vs. England to help secure a semi-final spot
3 conversions & 2 penalties in a 35–3 semi-final win over Argentina
4 penalties & a drop goal in the 22–16 final win over New Zealand

Pollard finished as the tournament’s fourth highest points scorer with 42 points, helping South Africa to their first-ever Junior World Championship title, at Newlands in Cape Town.

2013 Junior World Championship

In the 2013 edition, Pollard alternated between flyhalf and inside centre, displaying his versatility. In the third-place playoff against New Zealand, he tallied a penalty and four conversions, finishing the tournament with 34 points.

2014 Junior World Championship – Captain and Record Breaker

Pollard’s final year at the Junior World Championship was his most prolific.

Named captain and starting fly-half, he delivered standout performances:

7 conversions in a 61–5 demolition of Scotland
1 try, 3 penalties, 2 conversions in a 33–24 win over New Zealand
3 conversions in a 21–8 win over Samoa

In the semi-final, South Africa beat New Zealand again, 32–25. Pollard scored a try and kicked 2 penalties, and 3 conversions. In the final against England, he added another 10 points, but the Baby Boks lost 20–21. He was named 2014 IRB Young Player of the Year

Springbok Flyhalves Through the Decades