'Dream comes true' for Nowell

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs youngster Jack Nowell admits it will be a "dream come true" when he runs out for England in their opening RBS Six Nations clash against France in Paris this afternoon.

Alongside Northampton Saints centre Luther Burrell, the 20-year-old Cornishman is one of two debutants in Stuart Lancaster's starting XV for the clash at the Stade de France.

For Nowell, the chance to represent his country is something he has craved ever since he took up the sport as a five-year-old down at the Pirates mini-junior section in Penzance.

Under the watchful eye of coaches Nicky Brookes and Peter Lugg, the fresh-faced youngster was given his initial introduction into the game. Initially he was unsure of how he would take to the game, but as time went by so Nowell began to fall in love with the story.

As they say, the rest is history for the son of a Newlyn trawlerman who over the years has blossomed into one of English rugby's brightest talents.

He is the shining light in a sparkling group of talent that has been reared by the Chiefs in recent years. Not only was he last season's LV= Breakthrough Player of the Year, but he was also a Junior World Champion alongside four of his Exeter team-mates with England in France last summer.

In what has been a whirlwind 12 months for Nowell, his call-up to England's senior ranks is not only worthy, but totally justified according to head coach Lancaster.

“I’ve tracked his progress since I saw this bleached-blond boy playing full-back for England Under-18s three or four years ago,” said Lancaster.

“Rob Baxter told me he’s the first name on Exeter’s teamsheet in the backline, which is saying something about a 20-year-old. He has got this ability to create something out of nothing, which gives coaches the confidence to pick him. Experience counts for something but belief in the player from the management and belief from the team often count for more.”

With such a ringing endorsement from the boss, it's little wonder that the laid-back Cornishman is seemingly happy to take everything in his stride.

"I think you could say it's a dream come true for me," said Nowell. "It's something I have been thinking about ever since I started playing rugby, so for it to happen I'm obviously over the moon."

Lancaster informed the Truro-born starlet on Monday that he would be given the nod ahead of the more experienced Chris Ashton in the French capital - and ever since then Nowell has been sporting a smile as wide as the River Tamar.

"Stuart told me on Monday in one of our meetings that I would be starting on the wing," he explained. "Straight away the smile on my face was just ridiculous and it's been there ever since. To be given this chance is a huge honour for me."

Told in one of our meetings on Monday, SL said I am going to use for starting XV and on the wing, straight away the smile on my gface was ridiculous, to be given that chance is a huge honour.

However, Nowell's smile was momentarily curtailed midway through the week when he was turned away from a cinema in Camberley because he did not look old enough to watch the film.

“I went to the cinema yesterday to see ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. I was really excited to go in,” said the Exeter winger. “I was with Tom Johnson and Henry Thomas. They got their tickets first. I was going to pay for mine and the lady said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m going to have to ask you for your ID’. I started panicking because I didn’t have any ID on me, so I had to go back to the hotel and get my passport.

"We came back and watched the one an hour later with my passport in my back pocket. It was quite funny.

“I don’t see myself as a big international player yet. I am still young with a lot to learn. But the fact that this is going to happen for me this weekend is massive. My dad was meant to be going on a trip this weekend but he has called his boat back in. He’s going to fly over to Paris with my mum and brothers.”

But it won't be just the Nowell family who will be beaming with pride come kick-off in Paris, there are plenty too at the Chiefs who will take immense satisfaction from his appearance.

"It's huge for the club and it shows how far we've come," said Ali Hepher, the club's assistant coach. "But the most important thing is Jack's an absolute grafter. He works so hard and he's getting what he deserves.

"He prepares meticulously for games and his performances in the Premiership and Europe have been right up there. Jack beats defenders regularly and he's one of the best in the Premiership at it. The club has given him the stage to show what he can do and he's taken the chance with both hands."

Nowell has come through an Exeter academy system which has also produced number eight Dave Ewers, fly-half Henry Slade, scrum-half Dave Lewis and centre Sam Hill, who all represented England Saxons last week.

"It's fantastic first and foremost for Jack but also for the academy system and all the work that has gone into him," continued Hepher. "He's had a lot of assistance from coaches all along the way, but it needs the drive from him primarily."