The story behind BIL: The famous British and Irish Lions tradition that is Henry Pollock’s responsibility
Henry Pollock has a huge responsibility during the tour to Australia.
Henry Pollock will honour a famous British and Irish Lions tradition after linking up with the squad ahead of the tour to Australia.
As the youngest player in the squad, the England star who rocketed to fame after making his debut in the Six Nations has the responsibility of looking after a stuffed Lion, aptly named ‘BIL’.
The story behind BIL
BIL is not the first stuffed Lion to be the touring team’s mascot having replaced “Leo”, who was forcibly retired after being in place for almost two decades.
Pollock is required to take care of BIL throughout the tour, taking the mascot to all events, training sessions and matches.
While it seems like an easy enough task, it is made more difficult as due to the fact that not only does BIL go wherever the team goes but squad members notoriously make life difficult for the youngest player by hiding the mascot during training sessions or stealing it.
British and Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje was given the responsibility back in 2017 on the tour to New Zealand while the most recent carer was Louis Rees-Zammit in South Africa.
Prior to Itoje, Leigh Halfpenny was the last carer of Leo and Stuart Hogg the first player who looked after BIL and now it’s up to Pollock who has revealed his plans to avoid the blunder of losing BIL and spending too much time searching for him, thanks to mischievous teammates.
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In 2013, Hogg complained about looking after the mascot claiming that it flared up his hay fever.
“Hay fever is a nightmare. It always comes in the summer. My eyes start to puff up and holding that lion is a bit of a nightmare with its long mane it’s a bit itchy,” he said.
“I’ll maybe speak to the gaffer and see what he says about that.”
However, in 2017, he was quick to make life difficult for Itoje by stealing BIL at every opportunity.
“The fact that my door was the first that Maro knocked on suggests I have a pretty bad reputation for hiding him already,” he revealed in his Telegraph column during the tour in New Zealand.
“I must admit I have had a bit of fun with Maro. I do feel sorry for him but BIL is a huge part of this tour and he has to go everywhere. He will go walkabout at times but he will always be close by and someone will always know where he is.”
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Youngest Lions tourists over the years and mascot carers
2025: Henry Pollock – 20
2021: Louis Rees-Zammit – 20
2017: Maro Itoje – 22
2013: Stuart Hogg – 20
2009: Leigh Halfpenny – 20 (Replacement)
2005: Matt Stevens – 22
2001: Jonny Wilkinson – 22
1997: Eric Miller – 21
1993: Scott Gibbs – 22
1989: Craig Chalmers – 20
1983: Rob Ackerman – 22
1980: Peter Morgan -21
1977: Elgan Rees – 22
1974: Clive Rees – 22
1971: John Bevan – 20
1968: Keith Jarrett – 20
1966: Terry Price – 20 (Replacement)
1962: Ronnie Cowan – 20
1959: Dave Hewitt – 19
1955: Tony O’Reilly – 19
1950: Lewis Jones – 19 (Replacement)
