Billy Pollard's Rugby Union Journey: From NRL Interest to Brumbies Milestone
ACT Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard has no regrets about choosing rugby union over the NRL, as he prepares to celebrate his 50th Super Rugby Pacific cap this Friday night. Despite interest from legendary coach Wayne Bennett and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Pollard believes union was the right path for his career.
A Decision Made by Fate
Pollard, whose father and grandfather both played for the North Sydney Bears in rugby league, said the choice between codes happened organically. "I didn't actually make [a choice], it kind of just happened without me having to pick one or the other," he explained. "I always thought that was a sign that union was probably the right way to go. Certainly hasn't been any regrets."
Now 24 years old, Pollard expressed deep affection for the Brumbies and the sport, highlighting the opportunity to represent the Wallabies and travel as significant perks. "I absolutely love the Brumbies and I love the game of union. If you ever get the chance to represent the Wallabies, it's always something that's extremely special," he added.
Reflecting on a Tough Debut
Pollard's milestone match comes against the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin, the same team he faced in his 2021 debut. He candidly described that first game as a "shocker," recalling, "It was against Highlanders. We got pumped." Despite the rough start, he remains grateful to former Brumbies coach Dan McKellar for giving him the experience, which fueled his determination to succeed at the top level.
Aiming to Reignite Try-Scoring Form
As he approaches his 50th cap, Pollard hopes to recapture the try-scoring prowess he displayed last season. In 2025, he led the Brumbies with 11 tries, many coming from the team's effective maul. "A lot of that came off the maul so if we can get the maul going, and [James Slipper] says as well, I'm at the back doing nothing, so that would be nice if I could just cherry-pick a few," he said with a laugh.
Brumbies Focus on Highlanders Clash
The Brumbies currently sit fourth on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, coming off a bye week following a loss to rivals NSW Waratahs. Pollard emphasized the need to move forward rather than dwell on past defeats. "We were very disappointed with our performance against the Tahs, but, to be fair, they played really well too," he noted. "It's a matter of now learning from that and just kind of leaving it. You don't want to go into a game trying to rectify the previous loss, because you kind of go away from what you're trying to achieve and improve on."
With semi-final hosting rights at stake for the top-two teams, the Brumbies are focused on securing a win against the Highlanders to stay in contention. Pollard's milestone adds an extra layer of motivation as the team aims to bounce back and solidify their position in the competition.
