Nowell: I'm loving life on and off the pitch at La Rochelle

AS Jack Nowell stepped off the plane to start his La Rochelle career, he was stepping into the unknown challenges that would wrap his brain for the initial settling-in period.

- BRENDAN MCGILLIGAN

How would he get to terms with the language? How would he and his family adapt in a new country with a completely alien language? And would he miss English rugby, international and domestic?

Over his 18-month career in the south-western coastal city, those questions have been answered.

Nowell said: “My family have really enjoyed their time here, and we still are enjoying it now. Look at the weather here; it is an incredible day, and it is December. I was on the beach yesterday with my kids having a runaround, so that side of life is brilliant. The kids are a lot more settled in school now, which makes life a lot easier.

“My kids are speaking a lot more now, and they have little French accents as well when they do speak, so it’s quite cool seeing them playing with their friends outside speaking French; it spurs me on to learn it more. I think I’m getting it, then one of the other boys starts speaking, and I realise how much I have got to learn!”