Lions ace Pollock receives giant stuffed animal as 75-year tradition continues
British and Irish Lions youngster Henry Pollock has been presented with Bill, the giant stuffed Lion that serves as the team's mascot, and will take care of it for the duration of the tour
British and Irish Lions ace Henry Pollock was handed the Lions mascot, Bill, and will look after the large stuffed lion for the entirety of the tour to Australia. The Northampton sensation completed his meteoric rise by being named in Andy Farrell's squad less than a fortnight ago.
Pollock has excelled at every opportunity this season and, at 20 years old, is the youngest player heading Down Under. As per the tradition, by virtue of being the baby of the group he will have to look after Bill throughout the tour.
The players met in Richmond on Sunday with Pollock, along with three of his Northampton team-mates, making the trip to south west London. There he was presented with Bill as the pair get acquainted ahead of a busy summer.
The tradition started all the way back in 1950 and has continued with the youngest on tour having to tend to Bill. Captain Maro Itoje had the job back in 2017 when he was in his early 20s and four years ago in South Africa it was Louis Rees-Zammit who had those duties.
It is customary for Lions team-mates to attempt to steal and hide the mascot with Pollock tasked with keeping it safe. But the back row star already has plans to keep it within his sights.
He joked on the Stick to Rugby podcast: 'I was just thinking about just air tagging him in case he gets lost. Putting it in and sewing it back up, and then you can never lose him.'
It was the first time the squad had all got together since the announcement as they jetted in from different parts of Britain and Ireland. Ollie Chessum, the England lock who can also play in the back row, is the only Leicester Tiger present and joked that it was like being back at school.
'It's a little bit awkward, like a first day of school, but I'm sure everyone will settle in soon," he said. "This is the pinnacle of rugby for a UK and Irish based player. When you're here, you want to be involved in those Test matches and perform on the biggest stage. I, as well as everyone else, will want to do that.'
The Lions will next link up in Portugal on June 9 and they enjoy a training before they face Argentina in Dublin on June 20. The United Rugby Championship and Premiership finalists will not be there however, which could leave the squad looking thin, especially if Leinster to make the final given they have 12 players in the Lions squad.
Following that the Lions will make the trip to Australia as they eye a first series victory since 2013. The first game on foreign soil will see them face the Western Force on June 28 in Perth.
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