Henry Pollock: Leicester remove ‘child in Saints kit’ remark from Northampton derby report

Leicester Tigers have removed a reference to Henry Pollock as a “child in Saints kit” from their official report of the East Midlands derby against Northampton.

Leicester won the game 28-7 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, scoring four unanswered tries in the second half after trailing 7-3 at the break.

What happened between Henry Pollock and Leicester?

Tensions boiled over on the stroke of half-time, when a mass scuffle broke out involving players from both sides. Pollock squared up to several Leicester players, including his England team-mates Ollie Chessum and Freddie Steward.

It did not end there. As the teams headed off, Pollock stopped on the steps of the Crumbie Stand to tie his laces, slowing the walk to the changing rooms. The Guardian reported that Chessum and Steward did not see the funny side, and pushed him towards the away dressing room.

Leicester’s dig in their match report

Leicester’s official write-up did not name Pollock, but the target was obvious. It blamed “a child in Saints kit” for starting the brawl and mocked him for tying his laces on the way up the tunnel, as RugbyPass reported.

It is not the first time Henry Pollock has been at the centre of a flashpoint. Getting under opponents’ skin is fast becoming part of his game. Northampton claimed he was targeted by Bordeaux-Begles after last season’s Champions Cup final, and he was sin-binned late on in England’s win over Australia last autumn.

Leicester dominate after the break

Northampton led through James Pater’s early converted try, but Leicester took control in the second half. Steward capped a dominant display as the Tigers ran in four tries to secure a bonus-point win.

Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson admitted the game got away from his side around the set-piece and their discipline. The defeat was Northampton’s second of the PREM season, leaving the champions five points behind leaders Gloucester and Leicester.

England team-mates again at Pennyhill Park

The timing adds an extra twist. A day after the derby, Pollock, Chessum and Steward were all named in Steve Borthwick’s 36-man England squad for a three-day training camp at Pennyhill Park, ahead of the Nations Championship opener against Australia.

For more from the PREM, read our Harlequins 33-15 Saracens report, and follow every club in our rugby hub, including Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers.