Veteran Welsh referee Nigel Owens believes Henry Pollock risks getting the wrong kind of reputation if he doesn’t rein in his behaviour.
Writing for WalesOnline, Owens said Pollock’s showmanship caught his eye during the Northampton Saints’ defeat to the Leicester Tigers last week.
The former Test referee stressed that rugby needs characters, but suggested Pollock’s antics were poorly timed.
“I was watching the game over the weekend and thought, ‘Oh, no. Now is not the time to be jumping up and down with the gum shield halfway out of your mouth enticing the opposition when you’re looking at a scoreboard that reflects poorly on your team.’
“If I’d been reffing that game, then there would’ve been a stern, quiet word with him, I think.”
Tensions are high in the East Midlands derby as Henry Pollock and Hanro Liebenberg get into it 👀#GallagherPREM | #PREMRugby pic.twitter.com/067A2YsYU6
— PREM Rugby (@premrugby) May 9, 2026
“I refereed some of the toughest players there were to referee,” he added. “Players that challenged you, and you had to really keep a close control on them. But they were never disrespectful.”
Owens made it clear that he rates Pollock highly, but he cautioned against placing the 20-year-old in the same bracket as established stars too soon.
“He’s certainly a great talent with the potential to become one of the game’s finest.
“He needs to play a lot of caps for England, win things and be a regular starter in those games at international level.”
Photo: David Rogers / Getty Images
