ONE OF England’s Test debutants this year has a big incentive to make the summer tour to New Zealand – he would be returning to his roots.
Exeter’s Aucklandborn back rower Ethan Roots found himself lining up to face Italy in Rome at the start of the Six Nations less than five months after pulling on a Chief jersey for the first time.
The 26-year old arrived at Sandy Park from the Ospreys after spending two years in Wales to fulfil his ambition of becoming a professional player having played four minutes for the Crusaders as a replacement.
“If someone had said at the start of the season that I would be capped I would have thought it farfetched to say the least,” admitted Roots, who started England’s first three Six Nations matches and came of the bench in the final one in Lyon.
“Inter national rugby has always been a goal of mine, but being capped so soon after joining Exeter blindsided me. I joined the club because it was an opportunity to start anew and felt playing there would suit me and I feel very fortunate about how the season has turned out.”
Roots made an impact at Ospreys after initially joining the region as injury cover, but with the Welsh game facing financial challenges he knew it was time to move on.
“I moved to the Ospreys after Dan Lydiate suffered a long-ter m injury,” said Roots. “It was meant to be for 10 weeks, but I enjoyed it and they kept me on for another two years.
“Then the opportunity dried up for a number of factors. They said they were not looking to resign me because they had a number of youngsters coming through the system and the Chiefs were keen for me to join. I enjoyed my two years there but it was the right time to move on and in hindsight it has worked out nicely.”
Roots was one of a number of new recruits at Exeter who lost a contingent of their 2020 double league and European winners at the end of last season. They were expected to struggle but they have been in and around the top four all season and made the last eight of the Champions Cup.
“We were written off at the start of the season and it was a happy place for us to be,” said Roots. “It played into our hands because there was no pressure on us. That came from within and we have gone out to perform.
“Rob Baxter (Exe
