Handre catapults into rugby spotlight

AS a 17-year-old playing at the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival, Handre Pollard was already showing signs of brilliance that put him at the top of rugby’s earnings list heading into the 2020-21 European season.

Pollard represented Paarl Gimnasium at the 2011 and 2012 festivals at Kearsney College where his intelligence and agility awed spectators and selectors and earned him the title of best backline player of the 2012 festival.

Born in 1994 in Somerset West, rugby is part of Pollard’s DNA. His father, Andre, captained Paarl Gymnasium in 1978.

The talented player also earned a provincial call-up in primary school as he was selected to represent the Western Province squad in the 2007 U13 Craven Week competition. He also represented them at the U16 Grant Khomo Week in 2010, before he played at the U18 Craven Week competitions in 2011 and 2012.

Former Bok coach, Heyneke Meyer encouraged Baby Bok coach, Dawie Theron, to select Pollard, then still in matric, for what became the winning 2012 Junior (U20) World Championships. Pollard remains the only South African schoolboy to have ever been picked at that level.

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Despite not playing in their first match against Ireland, he competed in the remaining four matches and kicked five conversions against Italy and four against England. This helped secure a semi-final berth for South Africa.

His three conversions and two penalties in the semis victory over Argentina saw the Baby Boks through to their first-ever final against four-time champions New Zealand. Again, the boot of Pollard was largely responsible for the 22 – 16 victory as he kicked four penalties and a drop-goal. He finished as fourth top scorer in the competition.

The imposing 1.88m 100kg athlete is a natural player and leader. He has captained Western Province Schools, South African Schools, SA U20s and was named the World Rugby Junior Player of the Year in 2014. He made his Springbok Test debut at 21 and, a few months later, destroyed the All Blacks at Ellis Park with two tries and 19 points.Pollard was included in Heyneke Meyer’s 30-man squad for the 2014 Rugby Championship.

Within two minutes of making his debut in the opening match against Argentina, he scored his first points by converting Ruan Pienaar’s early try. Shortly thereafter, he scored a penalty to help the Springboks to a 13 – 6 victory. Pollard scored 43 points in the competition. This put him in joint second place with Australian Bernard Foley, and nine points behind tournament top scorer, Argentinian Nicolás Sánchez.

The following year, at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Pollard (then 21) kicked five pressure penalties in the semi-final at Twickenham against the All Blacks.

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After a short stint in Japan, knee ligament and ankle injuries caused him to miss most of the next two seasons. During that time, he opted to undergo shoulder surgery but, while in recovery, developed septicemia in his shoulder which almost resulted in his arm being amputated.

Fortunately, he recovered and continued to play an integral part in Springbok rugby. As the Bok’s first-choice flyhalf, Pollard helped to win last year’s Rugby World Cup, where he was the tournament’s leading points scorer – a clear 11 points ahead of second placed Owen Farrell of England.

Pollard and his wife, Marisa, moved to Montpellier in France last year. According to the Wales Online website, he shares top spot with New Zealand centre, Charles Piutau, at the top of rugby’s current rich list. They reportedly earn a £1-million (R23.5-million) package. The only other South African in the top 15 is Springbok scrumhalf, Faf de Klerk, who plays for the Sale Sharks in England.

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