Jack Nowell: ‘Manu is always one of the first to text me when I’m injured’

No wonder Jack Nowell and Manu Tuilagi are increasingly close friends. Both should be at the peak of their careers but injuries have collectively restricted them to a total of 10 Tests for England since the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Nowell has not worn the red rose in the southern hemisphere since his country last toured Australia six years ago.

Hence the Exeter wing’s mixed emotions before his latest impending comeback to England’s matchday squad for the first Test against Australia on Saturday. For all his personal relief to be involved again having broken an arm against France in March, he retains significant sympathy for players such as Tuilagi who are still having to endure the mental strain of endless rehab.

The pair recently spent time together socially, taking their respective kids to a soft‑play centre near Tuilagi’s home and trying not to dwell on the stark fact they last started a Test together for England in March 2019. Their career tallies – Nowell has won 39 England caps in eight years while Tuilagi has collected 46 since his debut in 2011 – also tell a story. England play an average of around 12 Tests per year so at least half their combined Test careers have effectively been spent on the sidelines. As Nowell says: “If anyone works out how many weeks that is, please don’t tell me. It’s depressing, isn’t it?”

It is not just their head coach, Eddie Jones, who is now hoping both men can regain the necessary fitness and form to sparkle at the World Cup next year. If it does happen there will be a shared nod of recognition across the dressing room between two players who know exactly how deep the other has had to dig.

“We kind of both know what we’re going through,” Nowell says. “A lot of the lads who are fit all