Nowell exits camp early to work on ankle injury
Wing still on course to make the final squad Jones says Treviso heat is ideal build-up for Japan
Jack Nowell remains on course to take his place in England’s World Cup squad despite returning to the UK from the training camp in Italy yesterday for what the Rugby Football Union described as a “routine surgical review of his ankle”.
England are also expected to confirm today that Brad Shields, the Wasps flanker, is in line to return to training by the middle of next month. He also left the “heat” training camp in Treviso last week after sustaining minor damage to ligaments in his left foot.
Nowell did not train with the team in Italy but has been continuing to carry out individual rehabilitation with the target of returning to full training before England’s third World Cup warm-up match, against Ireland at Twickenham on Aug 24. Nowell will continue rehabilitation at his club, with the first of England’s two camps in Treviso ending on Friday.
Shields is also undergoing rehabilitation at his club and is likely to be available for England’s second warm-up match against Wales in Cardiff on Aug 17.
Nowell was injured in Exeter’s Gallagher Premiership final defeat by Saracens and subsequently underwent an operation.
The 26-year-old has been used primarily as a wing by England in recent seasons but had been in excellent form for Exeter at full-back towards the end of the season, though he is also capable of covering outside centre.
That versatility would make Nowell a valuable weapon for England head coach Eddie Jones in Japan, with the British and Irish Lions player almost certain to be selected in the final 31-man squad if fit. He featured in only one of England’s four World Cup matches in 2015, scoring against Uruguay after the host nation had already been knocked out by Wales and Australia.
Nowell has since featured 23 times for England under Jones, becoming a regular in the side and scoring nine Test tries. He also came off the bench in the second and third Tests for the Lions in the drawn series against New Zealand in 2017.
Jones said last night that the heat in Treviso had given his players an ideal indication of the conditions they will face in Japan. “The first week in Treviso has been excellent,” said Jones. “The climatic conditions have been almost perfect. Hot, humid which is exactly how we’re wanted it. We have a fantastic training pitch here, we have had great interaction with the community, we have had fans at our training sessions and we held an open training session at Benetton’s stadium at the weekend.
“We are moving along in a good way and adapting to any changes we have to make which is all part of the World Cup process. English players aren’t used to the conditions and it takes a while for them to get used to it but I have been pleased with the way the players are accepting they have to learn how to train and play in these conditions. The second trip to Treviso will be a second exposure to heat conditions which is going to potentially be vital at the World Cup.”