Northampton Saints' Henry Pollock breaks down Champions Cup final strangling incident, as Jefferson Poirot handed ban - 'It was pretty heated'

Henry Pollock has said his full-time altercation with Jefferson Poirot was "pretty heated", with the French player being handed a two-match ban for grabbing his throat. The incident unfolded following Northampton Saints' Champions Cup final defeat against Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday. Pollock has said the reaction of Poirot to "strangle a 20-year-old" after just winning silverware was "mad".

Northampton Saints’ Henry Pollock has described the actions of Bordeaux-Begles prop Jefferson Poirot as "mad" after the pair were involved in a heated altercation following the Champions Cup final on Saturday. 

Poirot was seen grabbing the throat of the England and Lions flanker as the two sides clashed at full-time, and it was confirmed on Thursday that the Bordeaux player would face a two-match ban. 

Pollock was confronted by the prop following Northampton’s 28-20 defeat in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium after clashing with Bordeaux fly-half Matthieu Jalibert at the full-time whistle. 

Investec Champions Cup

'Hard to explain' – Sale match delayed after parachutist gets stuck on stadium roof

06/04/2025 at 21:35

The Northampton youngster said he became involved in the coming together after seeing team-mate Fraser Dingwall arguing with Jalibert, and has questioned the decision of Poirot to "strangle a 20-year-old" after just securing silverware. 

Describing the incident on TNT Sports’ Rugby Breakdown show, Pollock said: "The whistle goes, and obviously it’s pretty heated. I think Dingers [Fraser Dingwall] and Jailbert were pushing and shoving.

"I went over to Jalibert, pushed him and got involved, and was like: ‘I’m not letting Dingers be on his own here.’

Watch: Northampton stun Saracens with dramatic last-gasp comeback win

Video credit: TNT Sports

"And then as I’m doing this - I didn't know this in the moment, Fin [Smith] was looking around -  apparently the loosehead [Poirot] was on the bench and beelined it straight to me."

Pollock went on: "So we’re in this, and he basically grabs my neck and gets his hands on my throat and squeezes my neck. I wasn't happy with this, I was pretty angry.

"I managed to rip his shirt, and then the bit that you see is as he turns away, I push him, and then his friend comes in," Pollock said, while gesturing a grabbing motion with his hand.

Pollock added: "We had to do statements after. It was mad, you’ve just won the Champions Cup and the first thing you want to do is run on and strangle a 20-year-old."

• 'No regrets'- Saracens star Goode to retire at end of season
• Will there be extra time or golden points during the 2025 British & Irish Lions?

The Bordeaux squad continued to take exception to Pollock long after the full–time whistle, with pictures on their social media showing Tevita Tatafu recreating the youngster’s 'pulse-check' celebration in the changing room, before he was seen holding a sign that read "Pollock, calm down!" on their open-top bus parade.

Also speaking on the Rugby Breakdown show, Northampton’s Tommy Freeman told his team-mate: "I would actually say, if they want to do that and make you the front line of their celebrations, then fair play."

The winger said Pollock has "got a bit of a target on his back, through no fault of his own". 

Dowson hails Freeman's 'incredible mindset' after Saints beat Saracens

Video credit: TNT Sports

Poirot’s suspension means he will miss the last two games of Bordeaux's regular season.

European Professional Club Rugby said the prop "accepted that he had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card".

A statement said: "The independent disciplinary committee upheld the complaint and it determined that the offending was at the low-end of World Rugby's sanctions and four weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point.

"Taking into account the player's guilty plea, his good disciplinary record and his full co-operation with the disciplinary process, the committee decided to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50% before imposing a two-week suspension."

---

Watch and stream the Gallagher Premiership on TNT Sports and discovery+

PREM

'In a good place' - Match-winning Cleaves feeling 'stronger' after injury lay-off

24/01/2025 at 23:29

Investec Champions Cup

Northampton continue unbeaten streak with win over Bulls, Leicester thrash Sharks

14/12/2024 at 21:06