“I’ve got to plan that he [Nowell] won’t be here. That’s the current situation. With Jack, it’s been very open. There haven’t been any problems. The agreement we’ve got is that if I find a replacement player I like the look of, we are going to sign them. He is aware of that” – Baxter
Last Updated: 04/01/23 12:32pm
Jack Nowell is out of contract at Exeter Chiefs at the end of the season
Rob Baxter says he has to plan for England wing Jack Nowell not being part of the Exeter squad next season, while a move abroad would end the latter’s England career.
Nowell, an England vice-captain under Eddie Jones who has enjoyed a successful 10-year career at Exeter, is out of contract with Chiefs at the end of this term.He has been strongly linked with a move to France, following Chiefs team-mates Luke Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds, who will join Top 14 champions Montpellier after the Rugby World Cup in France later this year. While Exeter Director of Rugby Baxter says nothing has yet been decided on 29-year-old Nowell’s club future, it would appear a Sandy Park exit is likely.A move to France would end the player’s Test career with England too, with the RFU’s selection policy such that players playing outside of England are not eligible.Asked if he was planning to be without Nowell next season, Baxter said: “Yes. I’ve got to plan that he won’t be here. That’s the current situation. Baxter confirmed this week that Exeter are planning for a future without Nowell “With Jack, it has been very open in all the conversations. There haven’t been any problems.”I …