“You could see the disappointment on their faces four years ago after South Africa beat them in the 2019 RWC final. If there is going to be beef, there will be beef. It’s test rugby, it’s 80 minutes and we just have to play the game,” said Handre Pollard. Let us embark on knowing more about this rugby superstar.
| Full name | Handre Pollard |
| Date of birth | 11th of March 1994 |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 189 cm |
| Weight | 98 kg |
| Profession | Professional Rugby Player |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Marise Pollard |
BRIEF BACKGROUND.
Handre Pollard is a south African rugby union player holding the position of a fly half, born on the 11th of March 1994 in Somerset west in South Africa. He is 189 cm tall and weighs 98 kg.
Handre was born to Karen and Andre Pollard in Somerset West, South Africa. His father, Andre, was a rugby heavyweight in his time, captaining the 1978 Paarl Gimnasium first XV. His mother, Karen, teaches at the Curro Schools in Cape Town, South Africa. He has one sibling, Inneke van Niekerk.
FAMILY.
He is married to Marise Malherbe. These two got married in December 2017. Handre and Marise just had a bouncing baby boy on the 25th of April 2024 and they shared their excitement on Instagram and the caption read: “Hunter André Pollard. Our biggest blessing & Greatest love. 25 April 2024 | 3.6kg | 52cm.”
EDUCATION AND CAREER.
The fly-half attended Somerset West Primary School, where he actively played rugby, earning a provincial call-up. He joined Paarl Gimnasium Secondary School and later played for the University of Pretoria. He was selected in the Western Province squad for under-13 Craven Week competition in 2007. He played for the under-16 Grant Khomo week in 2010 and then participated in the under-18 Craven week competitions in 2011 and 2012.
In 2013, Pollard represented UP Tuks while also making his provincial debut for the Blue Bulls in South Africa’s Currie Cup competition. After playing in South Africa’s 2019 Rugby World Cup, he moved to France to join Montpellier. World Cup-winning fly-half Handre Pollard joined Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2022/23 season. He has previously played for the Bulls and Blue Bulls in his native South Africa, Osaka Red Hurricanes in Japan and Montpellier in France.
RWC 2023.
“Definitely, the best strike of my life. I’ll probably kick another thousand kicks, and I’ll never kick it like that,” said Handre.
Handre Pollard landed every place-kick he attempted at the 2023 Rugby World Cup at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis in four appearances. Pollard kicked match-winning penalties in one-point wins vs France in the quarters, England in the semifinal ( the opportunity came after Ox Nche, the prop, won a scrum penalty) and New Zealand in the final. Pollard initially missed out on South Africa’s World Cup squad due to a calf injury, but was called up during the tournament. He is the third highest test points scorer in Springbok rugby history.