Nowell and Exeter look to push on at Thomond
LIONS winger Jack Nowell says that making a bid for European glory has to be the next step for his Exeter Chiefs side after climbing to the top in England.
And the 25-year-old believes that getting away points in places like Thomond Park is vital if his team wants to get out of their pool.
Nowell, who came up through the ranks at Sandy Park to become Exeter’s first ever Lion two years ago, said they want to push on in Europe after winning the Premiership in 2017 and reaching the final last season.
‘It’s got to be the next step up for Exeter. The last few seasons have been great. But Europe has to be a main aspiration for us if we are to push forward as a squad.
‘Last season was good, we scored a lot of tries and played a lot of good rugby. We finished top of the Premiership, it was disappointing not to hold on to our crown.
‘We want that Premiership cup again, we want to go for that but we always try to attack Europe every year.
‘You have to win your home games and you need to get a few points from the away games but it is always so tight. Every point counts in the competition, you have to go for every point.’
The England international is back in action over the past couple of weeks after recovering from ankle surgery over the summer and is hoping they can make an impact at the outset of the Heineken Champions Cup.
He did not play in the 12-0 win by Exeter Chiefs in pre-season in Cork and admitted he didn’t know a lot about the mystique surrounding Thomond Park.
‘It will be my first time playing in Thomond Park, I don’t know a lot about it. I didn’t play in the pre-season game because I was still recovering from injury but that took place in Cork in any event, so I’m looking forward to playing in Thomond Park,’ he said.
‘I had my ankle re-stabilised over the summer. It has been a long offseason but one that I have needed,” added the Cornwall native.