Jack Nowell will leave Exeter for La Rochelle at the end of the season. Photo: Ryan Byrne/INPHO/Shutterstock
Jack Nowell revealed that the desire to provide for his young family was a major reason behind the heartbreaking decision to leave the Exeter Chiefs.
Nowell will travel to La Rochelle at the end of this season and will be part of a mass exodus from Devon as many regular first-team players leave the club due to Covid and the tightening of the salary cap.
Three years ago, during lockdown, Premier League rules allowed clubs to sign players, with only 75% of their wages counted towards the cap. Exeter took advantage of this rule to keep the roster, but the group will now abruptly disband after the latest round of contract negotiations. Luke Cowan-Dickey, Dave Evers, Sam and Joe Simmonds, and Harry Williams are some of the people who have to move on.
Nowell, who made his debut for Exeter in 2012, took charge of the club on Sunday as they lost 47–28 to La Rochelle in the Champions Cup semi-final. After the defeat in Bordeaux, the Cornishman explained that because of his love for the Devon club, it was extremely difficult to part with them.
“The decision to leave the Chiefs was one of the most difficult situations I have ever been in,” said Nowell, who recently gave birth to his third child. “But to be honest, in times of Covid, the club decided to take care of us and our families, and as we see in every Premier League club, there comes a time when wages really kick in.
“Many other clubs have been affected during Covid and we as a club are affected now. I have a growing family and sometimes I have to put them first. That's why it was so hard to leave the Chiefs; how much I love the club, I love the coaches, I love everything about it, but I have to take care of my family.
“My family is growing and it is time for me to take a pay cut. [But] was it the right time for my family to [take a pay cut]? Of course not.
Exeter will play the London Irish on the last day of the regular domestic season this weekend. At the end of an inconsistent domestic campaign that won't make it to the playoffs, the best they can hope for is fifth place.
Having chosen the Chiefs' first Premier League title in 2017 as a career highlight, even with a double win in 2020, Nowell believes Rob Baxter can revive Exeter in the coming years.
“Now we're talking about the recovery phase,” he said. “As Rob said, we have some young players playing in the Champions Cup semi-finals. Will Beckonsall at nine, Tommy Wyatt, Marcus Street; it will only benefit those boys.
“I remember taking losses. It was not on such stages, but in the Premier League. At the time, things were different and that made me a better player. The club is in very good hands, I know a few big names are leaving, but this only creates a few more names to go big in the Chiefs jersey.
It has not yet been officially confirmed that he will join Ronan's team O'Gara, and Nowell remained modest on the issue but welcomed the “incredible” atmosphere the La Rochelle fans have created in Bordeaux. However, the English wing is eager to play against the Irish in the last match against Exeter.
“I'm quite an open person,” said Nowell. “I love spending time with my family and experiencing different things. Exeter is all I know, so to come and experience something else, whether I come to La Rochelle or not, it will be incredible and I will be very excited.
“But to get him back – and I don't want to be boring – I don't want to end my career with the Chiefs feeling the way I do now. We have an important game against the London Irish, I don't know what the coaches are going to do with the team next week, but I really hope that I will participate just to reach a new level.”
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