British and Irish Lions star Henry Pollock risks immediate fine despite warning

Wednesday, 18 June 2025 at 07:21

byRugby Rucker

A giant toy lion might not scream "rugby tradition," but for the British and Irish Lions,
BIL is as crucial to a tour as the matchday jersey.

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Since 1950, the Lions have brought a mascot—a stuffed lion named BIL—on every tour. But BIL isn’t just a cuddly companion. He’s a symbol, a responsibility, and a running joke with serious consequences. And for 2025’s Australia tour, 20-year-old England flanker Henry Pollock has inherited the job of looking after him.

It's always the youngest squad member who serves as BIL’s custodian. That job comes with rules, and breaking them—especially losing BIL—means punishment, courtesy of the team’s fines committee. Usually it's in good fun, but the stakes feel very real.

“Henry, you have to have this on you at all times,” warned Maro Itoje, Lions captain and former BIL guardian from the 2017 tour, during the handover in Portugal. “Every time BIL goes wandering or missing, it's going to be a fine yet to be determined by the fines committee… this is basically your new girlfriend.”

Pollock didn't take long to test fate.

After leaving BIL beside a cameraman at training, the mascot mysteriously vanished—thanks to Irish prankster Bundee Aki, who hid it behind gym equipment. Panic set in.

“I was training, I left it somewhere,” said a flustered Pollock. “I come back and it's not there.”

Aki feigned innocence. Chaos reigned. And tradition lived on.

Pollock later joked, “I’ve never looked after anything this carefully in my life.”

Rugby’s toughest men, wrapped around the paw of a plush lion. As Pollock himself quipped:
“Everyone told me BIL was a big deal. They weren’t lying.”

"Complete shambles" - Five Players Who Should Be in the Lions Squad

Here are five players who arguably should have been included in the squad—if not the matchday 23.

Spencer (England) – Scrum-half, Bath, age 32

The heartbeat of Bath’s backline and the captain who led them to the 2025 Premiership title, Ben Spencer remains one of the most undervalued players in English rugby.

He made his England debut in 2018 but has been capped just 10 times—an astonishingly low figure considering his consistent club form. Known for his sharp box-kicking, quick service, and tactical awareness, Spencer has been crucial to Bath’s resurgence.

Now 32, he offers experience and composure—qualities the Lions could have used in a high-pressure tour opener.

2. Jack Willis (England) – Flanker, Toulouse, age 28

Willis has been in the form of his life with Toulouse, helping the French giants secure both Top 14 and Champions Cupsilverware in the last two seasons.

His prowess at the breakdown, physicality in defence, and powerful carrying make him arguably the best openside flanker in Europe.

\A former England Player of the Year, Willis has earned 17 caps but missed out on the Lions squad, likely due to his club’s deep playoff run and France-based commitments. Still, on pure form, the 28-year-old should have been on the plane.

3. Darcy Graham (Scotland) – Wing, Edinburgh, age 28

With 26 tries in 41 caps, Darcy Graham stands as Scotland’s joint all-time leading try-scorer, an extraordinary feat for a winger yet to turn 30.

Known for his electric footwork, blistering pace, and nose for the try-line, Graham is a game-changer when fit. Injuries have limited his availability, but when in form, few wingers match his attacking threat.

At 28, he’s in his prime, and his omission from the Lions setup is one of the more surprising calls, especially given the need for explosive finishers on hard Australian tracks.

4. Ben White (Scotland) – Scrum-half, Toulon, age 26

After impressing in the Premiership with London Irish, Ben White moved to Toulon, where he has continued his steady development as a top-tier scrum-half.

A regular starter under Gregor Townsend, White has collected over 20 caps and was a standout for Scotland in both the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Six Nations.

At 26, he offers a strong blend of youth and experience, with excellent decision-making and a tactical kicking game. With Lions squads typically taking three scrum-halves, his exclusion raised questions.

5. Taulupe Faletau (Wales) – No. 8, Cardiff, age 34

A three-time British & Irish Lion (2013, 2017, 2021) and one of Wales’ greatest forwards, Faletau returned from injury just in time to push for selection.

With over 100 Test caps and a reputation for consistent world-class performances, the 34-year-old No. 8 remains an elite all-rounder—strong in contact, secure under the high ball, and tactically aware.

His omission suggests the selectors opted to favour youth and form, but few players have delivered on the Lions stage like Faletau.

British and Irish Lions 2025 Tour Schedule

Warm-Up Matches

June 20: vs Argentina – Dublin
June 28: vs Western Force – Perth
July 2: vs Queensland Reds – Brisbane
July 5: vs Waratahs – Sydney
July 9: vs Brumbies – Canberra
July 12: vs Invitational Australia & New Zealand XV – Adelaide
July 22: vs First Nations & Pasifika XV – Melbourne

Test Series vs Australia

July 19: 1st Test – Brisbane
July 26: 2nd Test – Melbourne
August 2: 3rd Test – Sydney

TOUGH QUIZ: Can you name EVERY British & Irish Lions captain of the past 50 Years?

We've got a belter of a quiz in store, as we challenge you to name EVERY British & Irish Lions tour captain of the past 50 years. We start off our quiz back on the 1974 tour of South Africa, and bring it all the way up to the Lions' latest tour to the land of the Springboks in 2021.

To make this a little bit more difficult, some of the more recent tours included multiple captains, with both needed to be named if you want to ace this Lions Tour quiz. You have six minutes to get all of your answers down, and your time starts... Now!

"Complete shambles" - Five Players Who Should Be in the Lions Squad

Lions team to play Argentina: Andy Farrell names his XV