Lion cub Henry Pollock: 'I'm not going to be going into my shell' on tour

Henry Pollock insists he will continue to be a showman with the British and Irish Lions regardless of the exalted company he will be keeping in Australia.

The 20-year-old bolter, who was labelled the Luke Littler of rugby by Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell for the impact he has made in his breakthrough season, has been centre stage with his antics on and off the field for the Saints.

Lions coach Andy Farrell referred to his “cocky” attitude after picking him.

While some of his try celebrations have stirred debate – and his Conor McGregor victory walk at the final whistle against Leinster last weekend might have irked some of his new squadmates – Pollock is determined to keep on being Pollock.

Youngest member of the tour squad or not, he has no intention of turning down the dial with the Lions.

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“I think it’s important to be myself. I don’t want to go into environments and change. I want to be my unique self, wherever I am. I’m not going to be going into my shell any time soon,” said Pollock.

“I feel honoured. It just feels like a dream to be honest with you. I’m just so happy for all the other Saints’ boys who got picked. It’s so cool to be able to do it with those boys. I’m just excited for what’s next.

“I remember watching the 2017 New Zealand tour, in a holiday bar, going down with my dad and brother to watch that thinking: ‘God this is sick’.

“It is everything you want to be as a rugby player, it is the pinnacle of the sport, the highest honour you can achieve in the sport.”

Mitchell, who along with Pollock, Fin Smith and Tommy Freeman, makes up a Northampton quartet in the squad, predicts the tyro flanker’s big personality will help him to make his mark on the tour.

“He loves the limelight. He is so confident,” said Mitchell. “It is great stories like this, similar to Luke Littler, that people love. It is fantastic to have someone like that around the squad.

“It is nice to see him play with freedom, enjoying his rugby. I am buzzing for him that he got selected for the Lions. I think he deserves it.”

Freeman added: “He’s one hell of a character. You just want to give him shit, but you can’t. Until he plays really crap, you can’t. He’s just a legend. I just hope it continues and he keeps doing this thing, strutting about the way he does. I do think rugby needs it.”

Pollock is a popular selection with the public. Despite having played just 32 minutes of Test rugby for England, his name drew the loudest cheer for any when it was read out at the squad announcement at London’s Os arena, although it was drowned out in Northampton by the reaction of his delighted teammates.

“People have been messaging me saying it was a loud roar. I’m just so happy for that,” said Pollock. “I’m grateful for the support that we have and that I have.”

His status as junior tourist means that Pollock will be saddled with looking after the cuddly lion mascot BIL on tour. Pollock sees it more as a case of BIL being saddled with him.

“I feel bad for him spending time with me,” said Pollock. “It is going to be a long trip for him so all the best to him.”