From England to a Fresh Start: Marise Pollard on Family, Pregnancy and Building a New Home in SA

The Pollards swap UK countryside for South African roots in an emotional and exciting homecoming

For most South Africans, the idea of “coming home” hits deep, a return to sunshine, support systems, and familiar rhythms. For Marise Pollard, wife of Springbok flyhalf Handré Pollard, that sentiment could not ring more true.

After spending years abroad while Handré chased rugby dreams in Europe, the couple is back in South Africa and ready to plant new roots, quite literally. Their UK chapter has officially closed, and a brand new one has already begun.

A farewell to Market Harborough

The decision to leave the UK came after Handré’s contract with the Leicester Tigers ended. It marked the close of a chapter that began in 2022 and followed an earlier three-year stint in France with Montpellier.

In a heartfelt Instagram post from May, Marise opened up about the bittersweet move.
“Last week here, and my heart is heavy,” she wrote. “Going to miss our life in Market Harborough so much.”

Fans quickly flooded the comments with support, many sharing that they too had felt the emotional tug of saying goodbye to a place that once felt like home.

Temporary nesting while the real home takes shape

Now back in South Africa, Marise revealed this week that the family is currently staying with her parents while their new home is being built.

“All our furniture is making its way back from the UK by sea,” she said. The slow but steady unpacking of this next chapter reflects more than just moving logistics; it is the reweaving of daily life with a local flavour.

The new home will be near Pretoria, where Handré recently rejoined the Bulls, the team where his professional journey first began. The return is full circle, both for his career and their family.

Image 1: Woman and Home Magazine

A growing family, a growing future

If relocating continents was not big enough, the Pollards have more to celebrate. In April, Marise announced that she is pregnant with their second child, a baby girl expected at the end of October.

“Hunter is going to be a big brother… we are beyond excited. God is so good,” she shared. Their first child, Hunter, has already won hearts on social media with his cheeky grin and sideline charm, and it is clear this family is expanding with joy.

What this means for the Pollards and fans

For many fans, Marise is more than a rugby wife; she is a personality in her own right, known for her warmth and openness on social media. This chapter of building, returning, and expecting resonates with so many South African families who know the feeling of life in flux.

The Pollards’ return feels like a homecoming on multiple levels. For Handré, it is a reunion with his original team. For Marise, it is the joy of raising children surrounded by family. For fans, it is the satisfying full-circle story of a couple returning not only to their homeland but also to their roots.

As their house rises and their family grows, one thing is certain: South Africa is not just where they came from. It is where their next story will be written.

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Source: The Citizen

Featured Image: The South African