"It feels like a dream" - Henry Pollock reacts to his British & Irish Lions Call-Up

As the youngest member of the 38-man squad that are set to jet off to Australia, Pollock will be tasked to look after 'BIL', the famous lion toy that makes checking in to a flight all the more difficult. Pollock was asked what it meant to have a place upon the Lions tour, despite having played just 32 minutes of Test match rugby for England.

"I feel honoured. It just feels like a dream to be honest with you." Pollock told the media, on the latest Northampton Saints press conference. "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."

Pollock has been called up for the tour, alongside a trio of his East Midlands teammates. Pollock will be joined in Australia by Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell and Tommy Freeman, with a solid showing of contributions courtesy of Northampton Saints. Pollock's reaction to being selected for the tour has since gone viral, with his Saints brothers piling on him as they watched the live broadcast this past Thursday. What followed was a celebratory meal at Fraser Dingwall's house, and an incredible sense of camaraderie.

"We all went round Dingers’ (Fraser Dingwall) house. We had a couple of beers to celebrate, but nothing stupid. We were just chatting. As I said, it’s so special to do it with three of your best mates. For me this year going into the senior environment, they were so nice and really took me under their wing so I felt at home. It’s been mad and I’m loving playing and being around them. It’s class."

“We are so lucky we are such a tight knit group here. I was gutted for Dingers and for boys who did not quite make the squad but they did not show at all in their faces. Genuinely, they were so pleased for us that we got picked. It shows levels about his personality and his character and the squad’s character. He is one of the most hard working blokes I know and I am sure if it is not this year, it will be very soon."

A stand-out fixture in the meteoric rise of Henry Pollock, was Northampton's Champions Cup semi-final win over Leinster from a fortnight ago. Just 12 months prior, Pollock was in fancy dress in the Croke Park stands, to watch the Saints get eliminated from Europe at the hands of the Dublin giants. Fast forward a year and Pollock stole the show at the Aviva Stadium, with a stunning breakaway try and an impassioned contribution to the match putting Andy Farrell and his Lions selectors on notice.

"I think before the game, I was maybe an outside (chance for the Lions). But, I also didn’t really think about it loads to be honest with you. I was more trying to focus on playing well for my club. I know that’s a normal answer everyone is going to give you, but I was just focusing on Saints.

"Obviously the media was hyping it up and Hutch (Rory Hutchinson) was hyping it up as well downstairs. You can’t really think about it unless you’re in, because the worst thing that can happen is you’re not (selected) and then you beat yourself up. I was thinking 'I’m not in' and then felt good after."

Whilst there's no denying his popularity around Northamptonshire, Pollock's persona has made him quite the 'marmite player', in the sense that fans either love him or hate him. The 20-year-old rightfully takes it in his stride, and expressed how he won't be toning down the antics whilst on the Lions tour. Pollock's celebrations and confidence have become a trademark of his game, and the back row is not set to change his ways ahead of the trip to Australia.

"I think it's important to be myself. As I said before, 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."

"I'm very nervous before a game sometimes. It's just that confidence aspect. The squad gives you so much confidence. I just play with loads of confidence I guess."

"I remember thinking back to my (Northampton Saints) debut at London Irish when I was 17. I remember having conversations and they (his coaches) were just 'listen mate, we back you, just go out there and be yourself'. It's little things like that that give you that extra bit of confidence to go out there and not be in your shell, not go within yourself and just be yourself. It's an amazing set-up and I'm so grateful to say that I've come through it."

“I don’t think the coaches would have picked me unless they thought that. The last year has been mad, a whirlwind and everything has come so fast and I am definitely going on the tour to try and play. I don’t want to sit there and watch. But if I am doing that I would be happy to."

Pollock recalled how was always encouraged to be confident, with a Northampton Saints legend giving him some rather 'colourful' advice. Former England captain Dylan Hartley crossed paths with Pollock whilst the back row was a student at Stowe School, and was progressing through the pathway in the green, black and gold academy. Hartley told Pollock to not budge from the back of the Saints bus from his first day, and give any of the senior players some four-lettered advice.

"He (Hartley) was a little bit of a mentor. He was kind of in and out of coaching but not massively." Pollock explained. "The only tip he actually told me was the first day at Saints, go and sit at the back of the room and if anyone tells you to 'f off', tell them to 'f off'. So that was class. I look back on that with fond memories because I didn't do that!"

There's no denying how the Northampton Saints man has become one of the most popular players across the Premiership. Despite his fast-tracked path to stardom, Pollock is always humble when speaking with journalists, and ensures to shake hands with every reporter in the press area once he's spoken. The back row is also a massive hit with the fans, and Pollock expressed how much he appreciates the love from the Saints, England and now British & Irish Lions supporters.

"I wouldn't say I relish it. I'd say it's something that's just kind of come. I'm grateful for the support that we have and that I have. It's a mad feeling, getting your name called out (for the Lions).

"We (Northampton Saints teammates) actually didn't hear how loud it was (on TV), because the boys were going so loud that we didn't hear it. I actually don't really know how loud it was. People have been messaging me saying it was a loud roar. I'm just so happy for that."

Now, here's a forewarning for anyone over the age of 25, Henry Pollock's earliest Lions memories was from the 2017 tour to New Zealand! The famous drawn series against the All Blacks was an unforgettable tour, and Pollock recalled how he would get up early on holiday to beat the time zone kick-offs, and the Saints man was swept away by what he watched on the TV.

“I remember watching the New Zealand tour, in a holiday bar, going down with my dad and brother to watch that. Was it 2017? And I remember 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. I remember thinking it is just mad."