The impact the 2009 Lions had on a 15-year-old Handre Pollard

Springboks out-half Handre Pollard has explained the impact which the 2009 Lions tour to South Africa had on him as a 15-year-old, claiming it was vital in inspiring him to go on and become a professional rugby player. Now aged 27, he is set to play for his country on Friday in their first match since the World Cup. 

When Pollard was injured after joining Montpellier in 2020, he feared he would miss out on a large chunk of Springboks caps but the pandemic has meant it has been 20 months since the 2019 World Cup winners last took the field. 

Friday’s series opener versus Georgia in Pretoria is the first of two warm-up matches the Springboks will play before tackling Warren Gatland’s Lions on July 24 in the opener of a three-game series and Pollard, the out-half who is expected to ask plenty of questions of the tourists when they first clash in Cape Town, is pinching himself that he has the opportunity to feature twelve years after a lasting first impression was made.  

The making of England star Maro Itoje

Jim Hamilton was lucky enough to spend some time with Vitality ambassador and former teammate @maroitoje before he jets off to South Africa for the British & Irish Lions Series.
The Saracens lock told us all about how he got into rugby from his days at school and how family plays a key role in his life.

The making of England star Maro Itoje

Jim Hamilton was lucky enough to spend some time with Vitality ambassador and former teammate @maroitoje before he jets off to South Africa for the British & Irish Lions Series.
The Saracens lock told us all about how he got into rugby from his days at school and how family plays a key role in his life.

Pollard wasn’t present at the Test series in person which the Springboks won 2-1 against Ian McGeechan’s Lions, but he followed every second on television after he had seen the tourists live in an earlier match versus Western Province.   

“I didn’t go to the Tests. I watch the Lions against Western Province in Newlands when they tackled Duane (Vermeulen) out of his boots. I will never forget that,” he quipped. 

Seems as if what happened to England at the World Cup is fresh in the mind #LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/GKyvQZv3SG

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 30, 2021

“There are no words to describe the excitement to play the Lions. I am just happy that it could happen and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Most of us in the squad now are of a similar age and we grew up watching 2009 and got a lot of inspiration out of that and wanted to become professional rugby players because of that. 

“Now we are sitting here with the possibility of facing the Lions and the huge team they are. Very excited. There are no words for it. The excitement is on another level.”

Lions team live reaction ?

We go live with @jimhamilton4 and @StephenFerris6 on Thursday straight after Warren Gatland picks his side in their first warm-up game in South Africa ?

Make sure you're there ?

?? https://t.co/X4ih3mlNyy pic.twitter.com/Sj3hTt8K3I

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 30, 2021