Lomu, Wilkinson, Pollock? Rugby's search for a crossover star

"Look at Lamine Yamal over at Barcelona," said Pollock. "He is only 18. "We need to spotlight those young stars, those coming through the grassroots, and ultimately the game will grow through that." Rugby success spawning mainstream breakthrough names has been patchy. After skittling tacklers as a 20-year-old at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Jonah Lomu was linked to the NFL, starred in his own video game and became famous around the world. Jonny Wilkinson, the steely calm at the centre of England's success at the tournament eight years later, was similarly stratospheric. Dan Carter, Siya Kolisi, Brian O'Driscoll, Richie McCaw, Gavin Henson, Sebastien Chabal and Danny Cipriani have also, to varying degrees and for differing reasons, cut through in the modern era. But they are few and far between. Chris Thompson is the founder of We Know Rugby, an agency that advises brands on the personalities and commercial properties within the sport. "There is the perennial challenge of getting big names in people's eyeballs all year round – and that's for any sport," he told BBC Sport. "International and club rugby are two distinct products each with its own audience and experience and the more they can collaborate, particularly in relation to content, the stronger the sport will become." Thompson is hopeful that Pollock and the like will soon have the year-round publicity they need to burn bright. …