JackNowell

England winger Jack Nowell can play in multiple positions across the back line – making him one of Warren Gatland’s most vital squad members for The British & Irish Lions Tour.

Nowell is most at home on the wing but can safely operate at both full-back and centre, where his intelligence and never-say-attitude shines through.

The 24-year-old is set for his first Lions Tour after three years of Test match rugby which has seen him already play a major part in England’s back-to-back RBS 6 Nations crowns in 2016 and 2017.

Originally a product of the Cornish Pirates youth system, Nowell was snapped up by emerging force Exeter Chiefs – making his Aviva Premiership debut in a 27-23 win against London Irish.

After a fine breakthrough season, the Cornishman won the Breakthrough Player of the Year award in 2013, a year after current England colleague Jonny May.

An England call-up was always likely, and head coach Stuart Lancaster picked Nowell for the 2014 RBS 6 Nations Championship – less than two years after his Exeter Chiefs debut.

He made more metres than any other England player on debut in a narrow 26-24 defeat to France, and scored his first try a few weeks later in a convincing win against Italy.

Injury robbed Nowell of a place in England’s squad to New Zealand later that summer, but he returned a year later – scoring three tries as England narrowly missed out on RBS 6 Nations glory again.

In the 2015 Rugby World Cup later that year, Nowell became the seventh England player to score a World Cup hat-trick in the 60-3 win against Uruguay.

At the end of that season, Nowell starred as Exeter reached the Aviva Premiership final – where he scored a try in defeat to Saracens.