Handre Pollard

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Pollard earned a provincial call-up as early as primary school level, when he was selected in the Western Province squad for the Under-13 Craven Week competition in 2007. He also represented them at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2010, before playing at the Under-18 Craven Week competitions in 2011 and 2012. He also captained the SA schools under 18 side both in 2011 and 2012. In July 2012, it was announced that Pollard would move to Gauteng to join the Blue Bulls at the start of the 2013 season. His first involvement in rugby in Pretoria came for university side UP Tuks during the 2013 Varsity Cup competition. He made his provincial debut for the Blue Bulls on 9 March 2013 against Griquas in Kimberley. In June 2013, after signing a contract extension to keep him at the Blue Bulls until 2017, Pollard was also named in their Currie Cup side for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season. In 2015, Pollard extended his contract with the Blue Bulls until the end of the 2019 season. In June 2015, the Blue Bulls announced that Pollard would join Japanese Top League side NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Osaka on a three-month deal between November 2015 and January 2016. In May 2019, the Blue Bulls confirmed that Pollard would join Top 14 side Montpellier after the 2019 Rugby World Cup. In December 2021, Leicester Tigers confirmed they had signed Pollard from Montpellier at the end of the 2021/22 season. On 2 March 2025, it was confirmed that Pollard would return home to South Africa to rejoin the Bulls in the URC competition ahead of the 2025-26 season.

In Their Own Story

The stadium roar fades into a dull hum as Pollard steps up for the crucial penalty. The rain slicks the grass at Stade de France, but his eyes remain locked on the uprights. He places the ball with practiced precision, the weight of the nation resting in the curve of his boot. A deep breath, a run-up, and the snap—the ball arcs perfectly through the mist, sealing another chapter in the Springboks' storied history.

Reader's Guide

Pollard's regular playing positions are fly-half and inside-centre. He is known for his goal-kicking, having been the main kicker for UP Tuks in the 2013 Varsity Cup and for South Africa Under-20 sides. He scored 68 points in the 2013 Varsity Cup, making him the tournament's second-highest points scorer. He was the fourth top scorer overall in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship with 42 points, and finished the 2013 Junior World Championship with 34 points. In the 2014 Junior World Championship, he was briefly the leading points scorer in the history of the competition with 131 points.

Did You Know?

• Pollard captained the SA schools under 18 side in both 2011 and 2012.
• He was the main kicker for UP Tuks in the 2013 Varsity Cup, scoring 68 points.
• Pollard was briefly the leading points scorer in the history of the IRB Junior World Championship with 131 points.
• He is one of 43 players to have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions, 24 of whom are South Africans.