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Bordeaux players mock 'unbearable' Henry Pollock in post-match party photos
By Ian Cameron
Photos have emerged of Bordeaux-Bègles players mocking Northampton back-row Henry Pollock in their post-match changing room celebrations following Saturday’s 28–20 Champions Cup final victory in Cardiff.
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The 20-year-old England rookie was at the centre of a fracas immediately after the final whistle at the Principality Stadium, with Pollock seen tussling with several UBB players as tempers flared at the end of a tense and physical encounter.
Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson said Pollock had been left visibly upset after an incident that he suggested involved foul play.
“There was a fracas at the end, there was foul play involved,” said Dowson. “I have been assured that the touch judge has seen it and will deal with it appropriately.
“Henry Pollock was particularly upset by it because I think it was uncalled for and out of order. He reacted, and the officials have told me that they will deal with it.”
Pollock appeared to indicate to officials that he had been grabbed by the throat, though that has not been confirmed by Bordeaux or the match officials.
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My favourite time of year trophy celebration photos pic.twitter.com/8tzbXp2u96
— Matthew Bauer (@MB5Plug) May 24, 2025
Now, further fuel has been added to the controversy after a photo circulated on social media showed a Bordeaux player appearing to imitate Pollock’s now-famous post-try celebration by pressing his fingers to his neck – a mocking reference to Pollock’s gesture after scoring against Leinster in the semi-final, when he said he was checking the ice in his veins.
It wasn’t the only photo either. Star fly-half Matthieu Jalibert and head coach Yannick Bru also mocking Pollock in the post match celerbations in a bar after the game.
Henry Pollock has already done so much good for the game of rugby . https://t.co/Tf2XQEf1rc pic.twitter.com/hW83N3DUXc
— Matthew Bauer (@MB5Plug) May 25, 2025
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Saints fly-half Fin Smith, one of Pollock’s senior England teammates and best friends, also questioned Bordeaux’s motivation in rowing with Pollock after the final whistle.
“They were after him (Pollock). I don’t think they liked him. He will be alright,” said Smith.
“I remember they (Bordeaux players) all sort of charged at him and were trying to get hold of him.
“I am surprised if you have just won a European Cup, the first thing you want to do is start a fight with a 20-year-old. I felt that was interesting.”
It is unclear whether any disciplinary action will follow the post-match scuffle but it certainly adds to the bad blood now forged between the two European heavyweights.
Pollock – who has been tipped to star for the British & Irish Lions this summer in Australia – played the full 80 minutes at No.8 in what was only his fifth Champions Cup appearance.
Social has been reacting to the incident with Pollock, with many users on X claiming Pollock was got what he deserved, while others pointed out that his antics have been breath of fresh air in game that badly needs more characters.
“Henry Pollock didn’t enjoy getting punched in the throat after full time but in fairness he instigated it,” wrote one X user. “He’s exactly the type of character rugby needs right now. He’ll be a superstar by the time the Lions series is finished.”
“Bit of a Pollock fanboy here (in the wider context of the game) but imagine being a 20 year old novice knowing you’d triggered a reaction from the European Champions like this,” said another. “If nothing else, the run up to the next World Cup will be interesting.”
Another fan wrote: “Henry pollock will quickly learn that in big boys rugby you will always b a target if you say things or over celebrate or show any personality. However anybody who thinks he was poor yesterday or froze needs to watch game again. He was xcellent in adversity, showed massive ticker.”
In fact before the game with was clear that Pollock was a key target for Bordeaux who wanted to shutdown the threat posed by the young English tyro. Former President of FC Girondins de Bordeaux and now UBB fan Jean Louis Triaud: “There’s this talented kid in Northampton, Henry Pollock. He’s a real pain in the ass… He’s unbearable! The fact that he’s English makes things worse. It would bother me even more if UBB lost because of him.”
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That’s flattery, they’re also just checking the ice in their veins lol
He started it and then had a whinge when he got a reaction. It’s not football he needs to remember.
‘Pollock ran to the ref holding his throat, but the ref thought it was the ‘Pulse’ gesture all over again’
Not bad tbf. Now, any update on your World Rugby board meeting and the top of the agenda debate on bench splits yet?
Quite brilliant.
The French are perennial whiners and losers. We wuz robbed. And even when they win they just don’t get it. Glad they don’t tour. Nobody deserved the full French front on, with all their bull-s-i—. A combination of sour grapes and ungracious behaviour. Rugby can do without the French. The 20year old is twice the player of any 20year old Frenchman.
No sour grapes in here 🙄
Rugby can especially do without some Grahams. 😆
Are you saying Pollock is twice the player of 6N player of the year Louis Bialle Biarray?
Sounds like the sour grapes is all on your part. French are a great rugby nation. (Please don’t bore us to death by wheeling out your South Africa stats).
Northampton had this coming. Honestly, they have been taking the p1ss.
In the tunnel before the Leinster match they all lined up facing the Leinster players instead of facing straight ahead. That could have turned into a serious fracas but Leinster ignored them. After the final whistle in Dublin Dingwall cupped his hands to both his ears to mock Leinster supporters.
Northampton TV showed videos of players being extremely disrespectful to Leinster players before that match and manager Dowson continued in this vein after the final whistle. Northampton must have decided this tactic could be replicated against Bordeaux. This was dumb as p1gsh1t. The last thing an English team should do ahead of facing a French was insult them. In thsi case a few NH players called Bordeaux players mercenaries. NH needed Bordeaux to have lapses and getting their backs up ensured they wouldn’t. So when Jalibert had a word with Dingwall and then Pollock ran in it was always going to end one way. Pollock has humiliated two French teams with antics already this year. Castres and Clermont were Bordeaux supporters yesterday.
There is etiquette of respect written into world rugby laws. All clubs must have that ethos. If every team behaves like Northampton then rugby goes into disrepute.
Now maybe their antics with Leinster helped there, but it didnt get them a Champions Cup.
As foe Pollock. A £53k per annum education can help with learning. But English publis schools have a disgusting reputation for the most horrible supremacist English bigotry. Wasn’t suprised to see two darker skinned men first in to sort when he started his toys out of pram antics. Ill say no more.
Northampton demanding a sanction for a French player is stupid and sore losing at its worst. Bordeaux were the better team, but utter disrespect meant there was going to be no repeat of the shock semi final win.
Believe me, Leinster will be waiting for them next season.
So what you’re really saying here is that Leinster were spooked by Saints unsaintly behaviour but Bordeaux weren’t?
Itoje and Pollock have modelled their games on being nouses. Itoje picked to be a Lions captain. Go figure…
Schmidt will dissect both. Pollock does sneaky fouls off ball. He is a potential penalty machine.
Pollock reminds me of Bobby Skinstadt - someone you would not know anything about.
Seemingly the top public schools in the land can't prepare you for every walk of life.
Lions callup will help him. Farrell will either coach it or beat it out of him.
Brat.
I went to Grey High - the same school that produced Graeme Pollock and Siya Kolisi. In SA terms and world terms Grey High is not a very expensive or elitist school but we managed to produce some very exceptional people - because of a simple acceptance of a guideline. It takes the belief that the collective is greater than the individual.
It just shows how unbearable is this kid. You can be 20 years old and not be an idiot
I watch the game to see him play among others and I, especially saw Coles . After a tenth article about Pollock, who, unlike U2, found what he was he looking for, maybe a deserved article for Coles ?
TOTALLY AGREE!!
And maybe an article today? On a Sunday Bloody Sunday.
This was an opportunity for HP to show that he had stepped up a level. Not in terms of his play, he was excellent, but this moment was always coming and it would have spoken volumes if he had handled things in a manner that said he was big enough to take it and not be ruffled. Other similar circumstances will follow, particularly now, and you’d like to think he will be better advised on how to deal with matters.
You just mean like take it like a man and not cry?
Yeah he really set himself up for failure, so many fans were waiting for this moment to see him taken down a peg. I think the Saints management should have put an arm round him and told him to tone it down. You can play with arrogance and self expression without needing the silly try celebrations etc. He's good enough that he can let his rugby do the talking, I hope he bounces back from this quickly.
The fact he receives so much hate shows how good he is.
It’s a compliment to be under so many peoples skin, and only 20 years old.
Or maybe he’ a just too ARROGANT & PEOPLE don’t like that?
The fact that he is good gives him the platform only. Its the arrogance that people detest.
I can’t remember Wilkinson or Dallaglio receiving that kind of “hate”. Or Lomu.
Or Dupont.
But you’re right, they must be terrible players.
Just remind me what exactly he has accomplished so far in a distinctly average team in a very average national championship. And don’t tell me about those tries against Wales, my nan would have scored them too.
How???? He was woeful at 8.
He needed jersey pulls for his line breaks.
He ran his mouth off after the whistle and cried foul when challenged on it.
The bad man tried to hurt me…
Plum.
LBB is only a year older, shows how good he is and doesn’t need to hold an arrogant attitude to get recognition 🤔