Jack Nowell reveals future plans after ‘promising’ club his services and what he ‘really misses’ about representing England
La Rochelle wing Jack Nowell discusses his future plans.
Jack Nowell has revealed plans to finish his playing career back where it all started – in his native Cornwall.
The La Rochelle winger was five when he took up rugby at Penzance and Newlyn RFC – the Cornish Pirates junior section – and although he cried at his first training session, Nowell’s love affair with the game had started.
He progressed well in the Penzance and Newlyn youth ranks and experienced men’s rugby for a brief period with Pirates Amateurs and was scouted by Exeter Chiefs who signed him into their Academy.
Nowell was also selected to play for Cornwall’s U18 team and England‘s U18, U20 and Saxons teams before progressing to the senior Red Rose side and also representing the British & Irish Lions.
La Rochelle move
He left Exeter to join French Top 14 outfit La Rochelle in the summer of 2023 and is contracted there until 2027 – but will return to his home county at some point.
Nowell told Planet Rugby: “I certainly would move back to Cornwall at some stage and have promised my old local club, Penzance Pirates amateurs, a season or two.
“I would love to represent Cornwall and hopefully get to a final at Twickenham one day with them.
“In terms of my professional career, whether I finish here at the end of my contract with La Rochelle – or whether I go back to England – you never know what’s going to happen.
“But certainly at the end of this contract I won’t be thinking about slowing down just yet.”
Asked if he could play in the Premiership again one day, Nowell replied: “I would certainly never say never.
“I don’t have a clear view on when I’m going to retire or anything.
“Everyone says ‘I want to play until I’m 32 or I want to play until I’m 36’ but I have no plans on stopping.”
Playing in France prevents English players from representing England but Nowell remains a big supporter of the national side.
He added: “I was lucky enough to be involved with England the majority of the times I was fit.
“I was there or thereabout with the team, but it can be really difficult when you’re amongst the squad but not quite there.
“You never want the team to suffer, but sometimes a loss might help you and might help you get in the team the week after.
“Sometimes when you’re injured it’s hard but now I’m completely away from the system – and I can’t play for England – you want the boys to do well.
England praise
“They’ve obviously got quite a lot of heat in the media in the past couple of years but some of my best mates still play for England.
“You can see the effort there and I’m sure Steve Borthwick is saying the right things, but I went over and watched a couple of England games in the recent Six Nations.
“It was actually awesome to be at the games but what I really missed was being part of the boys walking out and singing the national anthem.
“But the Top 14 is a brilliant league at the moment and every single game is sold out and a massive event home and away with fireworks and flares. That certainly makes a difference.”