Handre Pollard reflects on glory days with the U20 Springboks

In 2012, the stage was set for an 18-year-old Pollard to help the U20 Springboks to a World Cup title in Cape Town, just down the road from his birthplace in Paarl. But after losing the opening fixture 23-19 to Ireland, that dream seemed distant.

However, the youngsters rallied together to reach the final, where they beat New Zealand 22-16 to win South Africa's first and only U20 title. Pollard contributed 12 points off the kicking tee, a valuable experience that would help him become the flyhalf he is today.

"Winning it in 2012 will always be up there, but being able to captain the team in 2014 was a great honour and privilege," he told World Rugby.

"I look back with so much joy and good memories. Playing in big-pressure games like that at such a young age is so valuable and so fun to experience. It taught me very important lessons very early on in my career that I could apply going forward.

"The fight in that team was something special. After losing the first game in the format that the U20 Championship is played, it is very hard to make the playoffs. But with the support of our home fans and getting to play at the iconic Newlands, everything just came together for us."

When Pollard lifted the Webb Ellis trophy with his Bok teammates in Tokyo in 2019, he became just the 15th player to have won both junior and senior World Cups. Pieter-Steph du Toit and Steven Kitshoff were also part of the victorious 2012 junior Bok squad.

With the 2023 U20 World Cup kicking off in Cape Town on 24 June, Pollard offered some sage advice for the young players.

"Just to enjoy every moment," said the World Cup winner.

"It's such a privilege to play in a World Cup at home. Enjoy the pressures that will come with it and embrace it."