Once again two Cornishmen were in an England rugby team that lifted a world championship.
Just as Phil Vickery and Trevor Woodman featured for England on that memorable night in Sydney in 2003 when they defeated Australia to lift the Rugby World Cup, both Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-Dickie, products of Penzance & Newlyn RFC mini-juniors and Truro College, played a major role in England U.20’s second half comeback to defeat Wales 23-15 at the stade de la Rabine in Vannes.
Both players are now with Exeter Chiefs and along with fellow Chief’s Sam Hill, who last season featured at the Cornish Pirates in the RFU Championship, and Henry Slade made it a night to remember for southwest rugby as all England’s points were scored by players from the Exeter club. Nowell and Hill with both the tries, whilst Slade’s boot kicked the conversions and three penalties.
A few seasons back Nowell enjoyed a spell with Redruth playing in National League 1scoring some memorable tries, so his success at this level comes as no surprise to those who have been following his progress ever since. During the second half of the last Aviva Premiership campaign he was commanding a starting berth in the Chiefs match day squad.
Luke Cowan-Dickie playing at hooker has been one of the revelations of the whole tournament with no less a player than former All Black skipper Sean Fitzpatrick paying him a glowing tribute on Sky TV.
Well done lads, you are both the toast of Cornwall.
