Eddie Jones congratulates Sam Simmonds on Lions call

Colin Newboult

Exeter Chiefs star Sam Simmonds has revealed that England head coach Eddie Jones sent him a message after being selected in the British and Irish Lions squad.

Simmonds has been the Red Rose’s highest profile omission over the past three years, with the Exeter man consistently performing for his club in the Premiership and Champions Cup.

In 2020, the number eight claimed the European Player of the Year award before continuing that fine form in 2021.

The outstanding back-row recently broke the record for most tries in a Premiership season, overtaking the mark jointly held by wings Dominic Chapman and Christian Wade.

Jones’ text

Many have criticised Jones’ decision not to include Simmonds in his England squad, but the national team boss did leave a message after the 26-year-old’s Lions call-up.

“He sent me a text to say, ‘well done’. Over the past few months, there has been more chat with the England set-up and that gives you some confidence,” Simmonds told the Mail on Sunday.

“I was always hopeful that if I wasn’t selected by the Lions then I’d be involved on the England summer tour.

“I was gutted not to be involved in the Six Nations but the positive is that my form has been good for Exeter and I’ve been playing in a winning team, which gave me the best possible opportunity to be picked for the Lions.

“It’ll be great to right some of the wrongs of when I played international rugby in the past. I’m more mature and more physical now. I know how to train.”

A standout Lions tour could also aid Simmonds’ England ambitions and the number eight is determined to get back into the reckoning for the end-of-year series.

“I still want to play for England and be in contention for selection in the autumn,” he added.

“I’ve not been getting selected for England and I’ve made peace with that, but I still want to be a part of a successful England team.

“I want to get back to playing for England. I feel like I could have a role to play in the England side and hopefully I can prove that in the summer.”

British and Irish Lions Eddie Jones Sam Simmonds

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