When Charlie Ewels became the first England player to receive back-to-back red cards in consecutive Test matches, many would have thought his international career was all but over.
When Charlie Ewels became the first England player to receive back-to-back red cards in consecutive Test matches, many would have thought his international career was all but over.
The Bath second row was sent his marching orders in March 2022 against Ireland at Twickenham with just 82 seconds on the clock after clashing heads with James Ryan. While, just over two years later, in his first international appearance since, Ewels again was directly dismissed following a challenge on Japan’s Michael Leitch at a ruck during England’s comprehensive win in Tokyo.
Considering the wealth of talent coming through England’s 2024 Junior World Cup title and how the likes of Ollie Chessum and George Martin were making huge strides, people assumed the writing was on the wall for the former Blue Bulls lock.
However, Ewels with 33 caps and two tries has experience at the highest level having broke into the England team under Eddie Jones back in 2016 against Fiji. In 2017, Ewels starred in England’s successful tour of Argentina, scoring his first international try in the final test as Jones’ men won a 2-0 series before the now 30-year-old doubled his tally with another score versus Samoa later that year.
The 6ft 6inch, 108kgs forward has found a new lease of life at his club Bath and played an instrumental role in the West Countrymen securing their first Premiership title since 1996. Ewels started both the Challenge Cup final against Lyon in Cardiff, as well as the Black, Blue and Whites’ victory over Leicester Tigers, which completed an unprecedented treble.
Ewels’ club form has earned him an England revival, first in Argentina earlier this year whilst the Lions were away, and it should come as no surprise he’s back in the match day 23 this weekend given his line out prowess and fierce work in collisions.
Second row shelves bare thin for Borthwick
England boss Steve Borthwick possesses an embarrassment of riches at his disposal in certain positions but lock is not one of them.
With Martin and Chessum out injured, Alex Coles started in the engine room against the All Blacks last weekend, alongside the always reliable skipper Mary Itoje.
Leicester Tigers duo Martin and Chessum can also be deployed at blindside flanker, with the latter playing most of his rugby there, meaning in terms of players who are out and out second rows rather than hybrid players, Itoje, Coles and Ewels are currently the only options.
Perhaps, giving Ewels time off the bench against Argentina this Sunday will show Borthwick why he can’t afford to forget about the Bournemouth-born bulldozer as he plans ahead of next year’s Six Nations.