sport news Handre Pollard lifts the lid on his dream £600,000-a-year move to Leicester trends now
Globe-trotting World Cup-winning fly-half Handre Pollard started his career at home in South Africa and has also played club rugby in France and Japan.
But the Springbok star, who has wasted no time in settling into his life at Leicester, insists it has always been his dream to come to England.
‘I've been smashing the curries, they're brilliant,’ Pollard said with a smile.
World Cup winner Handre Pollard admitted it has always been a dream of his to play in England
Pollard, currently recovering from a knee injury suffered on international duty, was the Premiership’s biggest signing this summer.
At a time when two of the league’s clubs – Worcester and Wasps – are fighting for survival and all 13 teams are operating within the means of a reduced salary cap, Leicester’s decision to spend in the region of £600,000-a-year on Pollard was an anomaly from the rest of the division.
As their marquee player, Pollard’s salary sits outside Leicester’s salary cap budget of £5million although he was always the man head coach Steve Borthwick wanted to replace George Ford.
Pollard had previously been linked with a move to Bath and turned down bigger offers in the Far East to move to the East Midlands and join the defending Premiership champions.
‘I've always wanted to come to England. I wanted to come here three years ago, but there wasn't really the opportunity so I had to go elsewhere,’ Pollard said.
The South African fly-half began his career at Blue Bulls before playing in France and Japan
‘Getting an opportunity at a club like this is something you can’t pass on. It was honestly a no-brainer for me. I didn’t expect to be here so soon.
‘My wife has been here for a few months now and she has sorted out the house. I missed all the heavy lifting and the building of the cupboards. That's been great!’
Pollard and his partner Marise have embraced their latest move and now call Market Harborough home.
The Springbok star was supposed to join Leicester at the conclusion of the Rugby Championship, but arrived earlier than planned after falling lame against Australia.
He was initially expected to be out for around six weeks, but on arriving in England sooner than expected he
