Former England wing Jack Nowell says he is loving life with La Rochelle after overcoming “heartbreaking” family resettlement issues.
Nowell impressed in his debut season with the top-flight French side after leaving boyhood club Exeter Chiefs in the summer of 2023, but the 31-year-old father-of-three says life off the field was initially difficult.
“Rugby is the easy bit,” Nowell told BBC Rugby Union Weekly. “The boys made me feel very welcome, I learned the moves and started playing.
“The family side of it was more difficult, putting the kids into a French school.
“Them coming home and saying ‘no one speaks to me’, ‘the teacher doesn’t understand me’, and ‘I don’t want to go to school’.
“It was heartbreaking at times.
“Everyone at the club was so supportive, telling me to ride it out for a few months and saying that something will switch before they start loving it, which is what has happened and it’s been brilliant.
“The rugby was easy and I loved it straight away but now the family are happy it’s really good.”
Nowell and his family are now enjoying life on the west coast of France so much, the wing has extended his stay with the two-time Champions Cup winners until 2027, when he will be 34.
“I feel like I have been bought in by this team now and I enjoy playing for them,” added Nowell.
“Last year, I played the most amount of minutes in games that I have in my whole career.
“My body is feeling good and maybe the heat makes a difference.”