Nowell available for weekend

By Mark Stevens

England Rugby have tonight released Exeter Chiefs star Jack Nowell back to the Aviva Premiership club ahead of this weekend’s league trip to Harlequins.

The young Cornishman was retained for an additional two days by England head coach Stuart Lancaster this week as the Red Rose country continue their preparations for the upcoming Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin.

Although the 21-year-old had not featured in this season’s Six Nations, there has been plenty of speculation that Nowell could be brought back into the mix ahead of the game at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, February 28.

Nowell featured in all five of England’s Six Nations game last season, even scoring his maiden international try against Italy in Rome, but knee surgery meant he was forced to miss the summer tour to New Zealand.

Lancaster said: “We’ve had a good three days’ training including this morning’s session with Oxford University. It’ll be good for Jack to get some more game time and we are looking forward to seeing how he and the other guys play for their clubs this weekend ahead of selection next week.”

Confirming that Nowell is back in his selection thoughts, Lancaster claimed Nowell enjoyed his best game of the season last weekend as he scored one of Exeter’s six tries in their 46-17 home win over Newcastle Falcons.

Lancaster added: “Jack Nowell had his best game of the season last weekend for Exeter, where he has been playing 13.

“That [playing as a centre] is [Exeter head coach] Rob Baxter’s way of getting him in the game more. He is one of their most potent attacking weapons. He has got the tendinitis in his knee sorted and that has helped his power and pace. He is just a very good footballer.

“He is very good under the high ball, finds his way to get in the game, beats players one-on-one, and, thinking back to Ireland game last year, the kicking game of Conor Murray and Jonny Sexton was excellent and he dealt very well with the things thrown at him. He has a very good temperament,”