Jack Nowell on Adapting to Life in France: From Challenges to Contentment

Jack Nowell, a player for La Rochelle, was part of the British and Irish Lions squad that toured New Zealand in 2017. The upcoming European Champions Cup fixture will see Bath host La Rochelle at The Rec in Bath on Friday, 6 December, with kick-off at 20:00 GMT. Fans can follow the match through live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Radio Bath, and BBC Sounds, or via live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. The former England wing, Jack Nowell, has expressed his enjoyment of life with La Rochelle, following his successful navigation of what he described as “heartbreaking” challenges related to his family’s relocation. The 31-year-old father-of-three, who departed his long-standing club Exeter Chiefs in the summer of 2023, made a strong impression during his inaugural season with the premier French team, yet he noted that his personal life initially presented difficulties. “Rugby is the easy bit,” Nowell told BBC Rugby Union Weekly. “The boys made me feel very welcome, I learned the moves and started playing. The family side of it was more difficult, putting the kids into a French school. Them coming home and saying ‘no one speaks to me’, ‘the teacher doesn’t understand me’, and ‘I don’t want to go to school’. It was heartbreaking at times. Everyone at the club was so supportive, telling me to ride it out for a few months and saying that something will switch before they start loving it, which is what has happened and it’s been brilliant. The rugby was easy and I loved it straight away but now the family are happy it’s really good.” Nowell and his family are currently experiencing such contentment with their life on France’s west coast that the wing has prolonged his contract with the two-time Champions Cup champions, La Rochelle, until 2027, by which time he will have reached the age of 34. “I feel like I have been bought in by this team now and I enjoy playing for them,” added Nowell. “Last year, I played the most amount of minutes in games that I have in my whole career. My body is feeling good and maybe the heat makes a difference.” La Rochelle is set to commence its European season this Friday, facing Premiership team Bath at The Rec, a prospect Nowell is eagerly anticipating as he returns to England. “Every game playing against English sides means a lot for me,” said Nowell. “I know a lot of the Bath boys and hopefully I will have a lot of family there as well.” Nowell, who has earned 46 caps for England but is currently ineligible to play for the national squad due to the Rugby Football Union’s regulations concerning players based abroad, indicated that he does not anticipate a warm reception from Bath supporters. “Growing up, Bath were a side we could never beat at Exeter so they became a bit of a bogey team. I still remember the first time we beat them,” said Nowell. “The Rec is a tough place to play, especially with how Bath are playing at the moment. They are a good side and it will be a test for us. If you allow them to play the rugby they want to play the fans will get behind them. I’m certainly going to understand a lot more chat from the fans [than when playing in France]. The stands are so close to the pitch so when there is a stoppage in play you can hear the conversations and I’m expecting a bit of chat.”