Wings, Wheels & More - Jack Nowell

The smiling face of Exeter’s Jack Nowell is one that we have become very familiar with over the past few seasons. There is no question about the fact that Jack is extremely serious about his rugby, like all of our professional players he lives and breathes the sport, however what makes him stand out is the fact that he always has a genuine smile on his face, even mid game, clearly loving life.

It has been well documented that Jack found early mini rugby tough to take, he shared with me that he ‘used to cry every time' and not want to leave his parents because it was all a little bit daunting. Slowly but surely his parents encouraged him, both verbally with words of encouragement and with a spot of good old fashioned bargaining; £1 for every try scored. This encouragement and developing a feeling of belonging as part of the team helped cure those early doubts and from thereon his rugby soared. Exeter's versatile back enjoyed 10 years at Penzance before running out at Truo College and then  progressing quickly through Exeter’s Academy into the First XV. With his innate talent and willingness to apply himself Jack found himself playing ‘proper’ rugby earlier in life than some and recalled an amusing offset that came from this;

“Redruth was my first proper taste of men’s rugby and to be honest it was tough and physical. The boys used to give me a bit of stick because I had to have a note from my Mum allowing me to play Men’s rugby! She had the write the note each time saying; ‘I give permission for my son Jack Nowell to play with Seniors’ and obviously the boys loved it!”

Now, in 2015, the permission slips are a thing of the past and Nowell takes his place in any side with conviction and ease. There are many strings to the his bow from physical defensive intensity to blistering attacking breaks. Towards the latter end of the Aviva Premiership season his spells in the centre highlighted his strong distribution skills and a matches wearing the fifteen jersey showcased high ball proficiency and gave him meters to carve up. All in all the Chiefs' shop window led three RBS 6 Nations starts and the return was three tries and strong all around performances wearing the Red Rose for the relative 'newbie'. 

One of Jack’s strengths is the ability to step, with equal proficiency, off both sides. This ability is courtesy of his innate great feet and now having two fully working knees. The surgery earlier last year that corrected a long standing knee issue has paid dividends in terms of leg power and strength and this autumn these ‘naughty feet' will be housed in the trusted and familiar three stripes of Adidas. 

Jack’s laid back approach to life certainly translates into his boot preferences with ‘light and bright’ being the only key critical elements. Naturally hours of research and technology go into a pair of 'new wheels' and should any of our elite players have what Jack describes to me as ‘weird toes and feet like JJ and Ant [Watson]' then adidas mould their boots to ensure optimum fit. The importance of footwear and kit goes without saying, it won't make an individual faster or stronger but it will ensure there are zero external distractions and psychologically there is always something to be said for feeling the part. 

This weekend England headed to Denver for their training camp, looking from the outside in you'd have to say that Jack is very much in the mix when it comes to the final 31 man squad. Denver, like the previous three weeks at Pennyhill Park, will be brutal for however with the Exeter Chief in camp any down time will be amusing. Jack has an eye for a joke, a light-hearted sense of humour and loves a good prank highlighted by his 'best' which was once successfully pretended to be an ‘interested lady’ texting best mate Henry Slade for a few months! 

Light-hearted moments are vital for keeping a squad in a good place and with many other characters in the squad spirits off the field should be high and be a welcome relief to the harsh intensity on it. When the squad return all eyes will turn to the QBE Internationals and the time where Stuart and his team start to trim the squad again. The wing spots remain hugely competitive, there are five others nipping at Nowell's heels and only time will tell if he will secure the jersey that he looked so comfortable in during the RBS 6 Nations. 

adidas have officially launched the electric pack which includes a boot for the four different positions on field. You can explore the whole range here: adidasrugby.com Jack Nowell wears CrazyQuick.