24-5-2023 (London) England winger Jack Nowell has announced that he will not be vying for a spot on the national team for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France. Nowell, a seasoned player who participated in the last two World Cups, has been focusing on recovering from a knee injury and intends to prioritize his rehabilitation.
Since the conclusion of March, the 30-year-old athlete has only made appearances in the Champions Cup for Exeter Chiefs. However, he plans to take a break before his anticipated transfer to European champions La Rochelle in the upcoming season.
Speaking on the RugbyPass Offload podcast on Tuesday, Nowell explicitly stated, “No World Cup, I’m not doing the World Cup. I am just going to chill. I need to get my knee sorted.” He acknowledged that deciding not to put himself forward for selection was a difficult choice but ultimately believed it was the right decision for himself and his family.
Nowell, who boasts an impressive record of 46 caps, has not received a call-up to the England squad since the appointment of new coach Steve Borthwick, who succeeded Eddie Jones.
England, the triumphant winners of the 2003 World Cup and finalists in the previous edition, will commence their campaign in France on September 9, facing Argentina in their first Pool D match. The group stage will also see them pitted against Japan, Samoa, and Chile.
