‘That is false news’ – Handre Pollard on Bath link

South Africa’s World Cup-winning fly-half Handre Pollard has dismissed reports that he will leave Montpellier and join Premiership outfit Bath.

The pivot signed for the Top 14 side following the Springboks’ success in Japan but, according to The Rugby Paper, he could be on the move after less than a year in France.

Pollard has denied those reports, however, and insists that he has no plans to depart the club as they prepare for the new campaign.

“That is false news. I’ve still got two years left in Montpellier, I’m very happy here and I’m hoping to stay even longer,” the 26-year-old told reporters.

“It is very frustrating but it happens a lot. You can’t let it get to you. Personally I’m really happy here, my wife’s happy here, I’m really enjoying it here so there’s none of that going on.”

❌ Japan
✔️ Boks?

🇿🇦 South Africa reportedly set to join Eight Nations Tournament. 👇 https://t.co/ufUj0VoRZq

— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) August 30, 2020

Pollard will be a key figure for Montpellier when the 2020/21 Top 14 season begins this weekend, but it will no doubt be a slightly odd experience.

As with all sports around the world, the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted matters with strict measures in place so that games can go ahead as smoothly as possible.

It could perhaps become frustrating for the players, who now have added responsibilities to the pressures of playing, but Pollard has no qualms with the procedures in place.

“I’m not tired of the tests, it’s what we have to do,” he said. “We as players are tired of not playing rugby. If that’s what they want to do we’ll do anything they want us to do. We have tests every day if it’s necessary,”

Montpellier open the campaign with a match against Pau, hoping to put the frustrations of recent years behind them.

Despite large investment from owner Mohed Altrad, they have yet to win the Top 14 title and Pollard says that there has been a cultural shift within the club.

“Absolutely there’s a change. In terms of the structures they’ve put in, the people they’ve put in, management, medical, coaching, everything. It’s a lot more French than it used to be,” he added.

“I really feel the foreign boys are trying their best to get to know the French culture, learn the language as quickly as possible and become a part of their way of doing things.

“We came to their country and so we have to adjust. For me it’s exciting and I feel the French boys are enjoying it being a bit more French.”