The best place to celebrate being named in the Lions tour squad? The Exeter Chiefs canteen, of course, says Nowell!

Marc Astley
Authored by Marc Astley
Posted Thursday, May 25, 2017 - 9:44pm

Exeter Chiefs star Jack Nowell admitted he was "the most nervous he has been all season" just moments before he found out he was named in the British and Irish Lions squad.

He told a networking event at Sandy Park that he had just finished a gym session and had joined his teammates for lunch when the announcement was made live on TV.

He said: “We had an hour off and I walked into the canteen and there are not normally that many people in there but, on this occasion, the whole room was full and I just though ‘oh no’!”

“I thought 'what if I am not picked'? 'This is going to be so awkward, everybody is already thinking I’m going … and I don't have a clue'. We honestly don’t have emails or text messages about the tour so this was honestly how I found out.

“Everyone is in there waiting and so I’ve walked in  behind them, stood  at the back, nervous…  I think it’s the most nervous I have been all season.

“It got to George North and it is all in alphabetical order and so  I thought, if I’m going I’m going to be next.  So I am waiting there, I am sweating and thankfully my name got read out  and it was so special to be able to share that moment with the boys because without them I wouldn’t be going on tour, without this club I wouldn’t be going on tour and  I just can’t think of a better place to enjoy that moment than our canteen downstairs!”

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