{"id":627802,"date":"2025-12-12T06:43:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T06:43:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/627802\/"},"modified":"2025-12-12T06:43:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T06:43:15","slug":"alex-mitchell-on-loose-night-with-henry-pollock-and-all-black-lads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/627802\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex Mitchell on ‘loose’ night with Henry Pollock and All Black ‘lads’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Northampton Saints scrum-half Alex Mitchell has revealed how he ended up on a night out with fellow England teammates and New Zealand stars after initially going out for a quiet dinner with his partner.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many have seen the now-famous photos of Ardie Savea, Rieko Ioane, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Blair Kinghorn and others enjoying their time in the United Arab Emirates \u2013 but not many know the origin behind the famous link-ups.<\/p>\n

Well, appearing on the For The Love Of Rugby podcast<\/a> with Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, Mitchell has revealed that none of it was planned. \u201cPollock actually found me and the missus at some restaurant, said Mitchell.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re looking for Mitch on the reservation, and he came in with Guy Pepper and Blair Kinghorn. And then we end up kicking on to another beach club and just bumping into the New Zealand lads. It was quite a loose night,\u201d conceded the 28-year-old.<\/p>\n

\u201cPollock\u2019s like going around chatting to all the boys, but yeah, they were all on great form, the New Zealand lads. I ended up going home like 12am, 1am; they stayed out until 4\/5am. It was a very weird night, but yeah, a funny one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben Youngs poked fun at the situation, saying: \u201cI love that you\u2019ve gone for a quiet night out with the missus, with a few drinks and a decent meal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like a bull in a china shop, Mitchell recounted the actual moment he realised who had arrived. \u201cPollock comes in filming us, like shouting about the place. I was like, \u2018This is a posh restaurant, who is this? Quiet down a bit\u2019. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut yeah, it was actually really good to see them, a funny night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/blockquote>\n

Quins star reveals he\u2019s had little contact with Steve Borthwick despite \u2018burning desire\u2019 to return to England squad<\/a><\/p>\n

Partnership with Fin Smith<\/p>\n

Planet Rugby heard from Northampton Saints fly-half sensation Fin Smith<\/a> a few months ago on Mitchell\u2019s re-signing and what he thinks of his half-back partner, but what does Mitchell think about Smith? Well, Youngs was sure to ask.<\/p>\n

\u201cClassy, confident, skilful, a bit like a leader,\u201d Mitchell said when asked how to describe him, adding: \u201cHe\u2019s an old head on young shoulders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking about how the relationship has developed, Mitchell continued: \u201cHe joined Saints a few years ago now and even in the early days, you could tell he was going to be a quality player. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe is very mature for his age. I mean, he doesn\u2019t go out for a young lad, he cooks beef Wellingtons with his missus, goes on staycations and all that kind of stuff. So he is growing up way too quick.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is a classy operator, a big leader in our squad, and when he talks, everyone listens. So yeah, to have a fly-half like that outside you makes my job really easy. We\u2019re lucky enough to have someone like that for Northampton<\/a>.\u201d <\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/strong>:\u00a0SA Rugby boss hails the impact of Rassie Erasmus in \u2018creating golden era of South African rugby\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n