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Talks have reportedly been held ahead of the Los Angeles Games in 2028
England international Henry Pollock is among the names being lined up to represent Team GB in rugby sevens at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, according to reports.
The polarising 21-year-old has established himself as one of the most-talked about players in world rugby, living up to his reputation as the pantomime villain whenever he takes to the field with England or club side Northampton Saints. One of the game’s biggest rising stars, he signed with Eddie Hearn’s newly formed Matchroom Talent Agency in March.
Earlier this week, Hearn appeared to let slip Pollock’s intention to play in the sevens tournament at the 2028 Games, as he shared an Instagram story of the young flanker diving from a yacht in the south of France.
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In the video, the promoter can be heard saying: “Be careful. You’ve got to win the Olympics and the World Cup.”
Now, RugbyPass reports that Pollock is among five England internationals being targeted for the Games in the United States in two years’ time.
The publication claims that the back-rower, as well as international teammates Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman, Henry Arundell and Noah Caluori, has held conversations about the move.
According to the report, some of the players targeted are even having release clasuses for the Olympics written into new contracts they are, or have been, negotiating.
The England quintet are not the only players set to be targeted between now and 2028, however, with Wales speedster Louis Rees-Zammit also likely to attract interest from Team GB bosses.
Scotland star Darcy Graham represented Great Britain at the Sevens World Championship in Bordeaux earlier this summer and is another prime contender to feature at the 2028 Games.
It comes after France superstar Antoine Dupont made the switch to sevens for the 2024 Olympics in Paris and played a key role as the men’s team claimed gold.
Another Les Bleus star is keen to follow in the scrum-half’s footsteps, however, with Louis Bielle-Biarrey lined up to make the same switch ahead of the Games in LA.
Players selected for the Olympics would be required to take a break from the 15-a-side game, potentially missing the Six Nations in 2028, as Dupont did in 2024, in order to prepare.
After winning silver at the Rio Olympics in 2016, Team GB’s men finished fourth in Tokyo five years later as they lost out to Argentina in the bronze-medal play-off match.
However, they failed to qualify for the 2024 Games altogether as they were beaten by South Africa in the repechage final.
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