Shropshire Star

Nowell sets off on latest adventure after sealing Premiership win

The Exeter winger barely had time to celebrate the win over Wasps before heading for New Zealand.

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Jack Nowell woke up as an Aviva Premiership title winner on Sunday – and then caught a taxi from Devon to London for the start of another great rugby adventure.

England wing Nowell, who scored Exeter’s opening try in a pulsating 23-20 victory over Wasps that was only decided after 20 minutes of extra-time, barely had time to celebrate before switching his thoughts from domestic glory to British and Irish Lions business in New Zealand as the squad assembled a day ahead of departure.

But he did not intend missing the moment, briefly heading back to Exeter with his team-mates to savour a first Premiership crown in the club’s 146-year history.

“I wanted to enjoy it with the boys, because at the end of the day it means so much to all of us,” Nowell said.

“Times like this don’t come around too often. For us to actually lift the main trophy in England, I am going to enjoy it and make the most of it, then all my focus is on going away on tour and trying to get one of those Test shirts.

“I had a taxi booked for 7am, and as soon as I was on that taxi ride it was thinking about what is ahead of me – that I am going to get the chance, maybe, of playing for the Lions.

“That is any rugby player’s dream. It is a complete switch, a completely different mentality with a different team, and I want to make the most of it and go for one of those shirts.”

Exeter responded to losing last season’s Premiership final against Saracens by digging deep for a dramatic win that was secured by skipper Gareth Steenson’s 97th-minute penalty.

It stretched their unbeaten Premiership run to a record-equalling 17 games, with Bath the last side to beat them in a league match seven months ago.

“It’s massive, not just for Exeter or Devon, but for Cornwall as well,” Nowell added.

“The amount of people that make the trip up to Sandy Park week in, week out, and the amount of people that were there on Saturday shows that the support we have is probably one of the best in the Premiership.”

Nowell admitted the loss to Saracens 12 months ago had been a motivation on their Twickenham return, and he also underlined the importance of a regrouping session after French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne flattened Exeter 35-8 in a European Champions Cup game last October.

“Rob Baxter’s (Exeter head coach) words at half-time were that it was all in our hands,” Nowell said. “We could sit back and think about last year, but it was all about that last push.

“Fair play to Wasps, they are a dangerous side and showed exactly what they’re about, but credit goes to us boys for sticking in there.”

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