Seven national junior captains in seven years. This is the achievement that the Bulls can boast with after South Africa u.20 coach Dawie Theron announced on Tuesday that Bulls flyhalf Handré Pollard was appointed captain of the Junior Springboks at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship (JWC) which will take place in June in New Zealand.

EP Kings number eight, Aidon Davis and Blue Bulls fullback Jesse Kriel, were confirmed as the two vice-captains.

Pollard will be playing in his third consecutive JWC tournament and he brings a wealth of experience to the squad, having made his Junior Bok debut in South Africa’s successful 2012 campaign on home soil,

Pollard has delivered consistently good performances for the Bulls in their 2014 SuperRugby campaign.

He also recently toured New Zealand and Australia with the Bulls, which adds to his playing experience.

Theron, the Junior Springbok coach, said Pollard was a natural choice for the role as leader of the team.

“Handré has grown tremendously and made great strides as a player since making his debut for the SA u.20’s two years ago. He will no doubt command the respect of his team, both with his ability to dictate play from the flyhalf position and his natural leadership skills. With the assistance of Davis and Kriel as vice-captains, I believe we have a very strong leadership core in the group,” explained Theron.

Two years ago, in front of a record crowd for a JWC final, the Junior Springboks beat New Zealand in a pulsating encounter. Last year the team staged a memorable comeback to overcome the Kiwis again to secure third spot in France.

Theron said Pollard’s experience of playing in and against New Zealand would be a great benefit to the squad: “Handré has had great success against nations such as New Zealand and England at this level, which is invaluable experience he will bring to his team mates,” added Theron.

Pollard said he was looking forward to representing the Junior Boks in New Zealand. “It’s an honour to represent your country and each time you pull on that jersey is a highlight and special moment. I am thankful for the confidence and leadership role that the coach has entrusted to me and I am looking forward to play in New Zealand with a very special group of players,” said Pollard.

The former Paarl Gymnasium captain could end the tournament as the highest career points scorer in the tournament’s history and also the most capped Junior Springbok at the JWC. Pollard has scored 76 points after playing in two JWC tournaments so far, 42 points less than leading tournament points scorer, Englishman Tom Homer.

With this designation Pollard became the seventh Blue Bull to lead the Junior Springboks since 2008. He follows in the footsteps of Gerrit-Jan van Veltze (2008), CJ Stander (2010), Arno Botha (2011), Wiaan Liebenberg (2012), William Small-Smith (2012) and Ruaan Steenkamp (2013).

Liebenberg was the official captain for the Junior Springbok’s successful campaign in 2012, but when he missed a few games in the tournament due to injury, Small-Smith took over the responsibility as captain of the team.

The only non-Blue Bull to lead the Junior Boks since 2008 was Robert Ebersohn. He was the team’s captain in 2009.