Ewers looks to the future

Exeter Chiefs back-row Dave Ewers has shrugged off the disappointment of missing out on a place in England’s 50-man World Cup training squad and insists his season has still been a success.

Despite overwhelming support from World Cup winner Neil Back after a fine season at Sandy Park, Ewers was omitted from Red Rose head coach Stuart Lancaster’s initial plans.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed elsewhere though, with Ewers among the five-man shortlist for the Green Flag forward of the season gong at the Aviva Premiership awards evening on Wednesday.

And though the 24-year-old missed out on the accolade to Wasps No. 8 Nathan Hughes, Ewers is still content with his year.

“It’s was a massive honour to be nominated, especially with the standard of forwards in the Premiership at the moment,” he said. “It’s amazing to hear praise from an England legend like Neil Back and hopefully I can build on my form next season. I’m disappointed not to make the England 50-man squad, but with not getting into the Six Nations squad I wasn’t expecting there to be massive changes.

“Now that that selection has been made I’m ready to support the boys. I’m gutted to miss out but I’m sure the boys will do the nation proud. But I’m happy with how my season has gone, individually and as a team.”

Hughes beat Billy Vunipola and Samu Manoa to the gong, as well as Ewers and his fellow Chief Thomas Waldrom.

Like Ewers, the Chiefs came agonisingly close to the big prize, missing out on a place in the Aviva Premiership semi-finals on the last day of the regular season. But the Zimbabwe-born star believes the Chiefs can still look back upon their year as one of success.

“We came close and it was gutting to miss out on the top four in the end but we can’t put a dampener on our season because we’ve thoroughly enjoyed it,” he added.

“If we had performed better earlier on in the season we could’ve cemented those spots so credit goes to the teams that have gone through.

“Now that we’ve come so close this year the boys will have a real taste for it, so we’ll be hungry for it and hopefully we can look at top four as a realistic goal.

“The Premiership will be a bit of a different set-up next year with all of the fixtures being compacted down a bit due to the World Cup. It will be a different test to what any club have had before so it’s one to look forward to.”

Green Flag – proud partner of Aviva Premiership Rugby – sponsored the Green Flag Forward of the Season award. Follow us @GreenFlagUK or facebook.com/GreenFlagUK – www.greenflag.com