Double World Cup winner Handré Pollard is reportedly linked with a potential exit from his English club, Leicester Tigers, after this season.
Since the start of the season, Pollard has seen a shift in his role with the Springboks, often coming off the bench as part of the ‘bomb squad’ rotation system. After featuring as a substitute in four Rugby Championship matches, Pollard returned to Leicester Tigers for what could be his final season under his current contract.
According to RugbyPass, Pollard, who is said to earn £600,000 per year (approximately R13.65 million), may be heading back to Japan for domestic rugby if he decides to leave Leicester. This speculation arises as Leicester Tigers have been linked to Scarlets flyhalf Sam Costelow, who could potentially replace Pollard.
A Changing Role for Handré Pollard
Though Pollard is only 30 years old, he has embraced a mentorship role alongside his playing responsibilities. Earlier this season, Pollard expressed his enjoyment in guiding younger players, saying, “I’m not that old, hey, but it’s fun. The guys are exciting, eager to learn, and when we were young, guys also helped us.”
Pollard highlighted the healthy competition within the squad, which he sees as beneficial to the team’s collective goal. He also noted the mutual learning that takes place between the experienced players and the younger members of the squad.
“You always need to try and develop and stay fresh, and the new guys bring that. It’s enjoyable, competitive, but it’s really good,” Pollard added.
Reflecting on the Springboks’ planning for the future, Pollard expressed excitement about the opportunity to experiment and try new things following their World Cup triumph.
“After the 2019 World Cup, we missed out on the first couple of years, but those are the years where you really build and experiment. We’re trying new things, and every new game is a challenge.”
Pollard emphasized the importance of balancing experience with youthful energy, stating that the team is in a “good place” but remains driven to improve and reach the next level.
“We want more, and we want to become better. We’re striving to go up another level, and the excitement is certainly there,” he concluded.
