TRU Exclusive - Pennell Commits to Worcester Future

Star Worcester Warriors full-back Chris Pennell, despite the rumours over the last few weeks, insists that he is a “contracted Worcester player” and his future is at Sixways, even with talk of England opportunities and Premiership loans.

Pennell, one of the six men shortlisted for the Premiership Player of the Year award, has been tipped for a future England shirt by many experts and Warriors head coach Dean Ryan.

Despite Worcester’s relegation from England’s top-flight, with an incredibly disappointing season, Pennell has starred around the country as one of the league’s most promising talents.

Furthermore, with England’s back three anything but certain for the future, after a long list of current injuries and absences through form, Pennell has strong shout for winning a first cap this summer in New Zealand.

However, the question that is ringing on many rugby fans’ lips is: surely an England call-up would necessitate Premiership rugby?

Although not unheard of, a call-up to one of the globe’s top-ranked international teams, from the second tier of English rugby is something that could not be achieved by many.

Though, despite Worcester saying that they will not consider sending the 27-year-old out on loan to a Premiership side, Pennell has made it clear that he is more than happy staying at his hometown club.

Talking Rugby Union’s Editor, Austin Halewood, caught up with the man everyone is talking about, to, firstly, hear his thoughts on how the side is coping with the realization that relegation has now been confirmed, and his thoughts on where he will play his rugby next year.

“Straight after the game at the weekend everyone was immensely disappointed and gutted that it’s finally been confirmed,” Chris conceded, “but then I think we were pretty quickly picked up by Dean in the dressing room after.

“He reminded us of how far we had actually come in the last couple of months, which is true – we certainly need to remember that, and also the fact that we know our fate now and it gives us a focus.

“We know that we’ve got an awful long way to go, but it’s certainly the start of something as opposed to the end.”

Worcester travelled away to Saracens, the league’s top side, in the Premiership’s penultimate round of fixtures, where a 44-20 defeat confirmed their relegation into the Championship for next season.

The Warriors have only one win to their name this season from, currently, 21 attempts; however, on a number of occasions Worcester showed their worth against some of the league’s biggest teams; eventually losing by only a couple of points as they failed to provide the ‘killer instinct’ needed to seal a win.

Star man Pennell agreed with the point, but admitted that “it’s difficult to say” what was lacking in a number of games.

“I think that when you look at the really top sides, if they get four or five opportunities in a game, they take all of those opportunities and we’ve, maybe, been slack on that front; because I think we have created a lot of chances to win games, but we just haven’t taken them.

“Though, I actually feel that we have taken huge strides in the last couple of months to rectify that and we’ve got to keep heading down that root in order to be a successful team in the Premiership.”

Then to the questions on everybody’s lips – where would Chris play his rugby next season and what are his England ambitions?

“Absolutely,” Chris began, “I’ve always harboured England ambitions and that’s something I don’t think will ever change until the day comes that I hang up the boots.

“I’ll always want to play for my country, it’s always going to be an ambition and with the home World Cup on the horizon it would be an amazing thing for me personally to be involved in that England squad.”

Chris then conceded that he “didn’t know” whether an England call-up would necessitate Premiership rugby.

“It’s not a conversation that I’ve had with any of the England coaches, I’m not aware of their stance on it; it’s obviously not a common thing but at the same time if I am deemed good enough by the coaches then I don’t see why it could not happen.

“The Championship is obviously a lesser league to the Premiership, but the gulf is certainly a lot smaller than it ever has been.

“Certainly, as far as I’m aware my future will be at Worcester,” Chris continued, “I’m obviously contracted there – I know there’s been rumours about loan moves, etcetera, but I think that is all it is at this stage.

“I’m contracted to be playing at Worcester and I know that I’ve got a big part to play at that club, so, certainly at this stage, that’s what will be happening.”

Pennell will take to the field for Worcester for the last time this season on Saturday when they wind up their long, hard campaign with a home game against Ryan's old club Gloucester.

If he plays the entire match, the Warriors full-back will complete the rare achievement of having been on the pitch for every minute of his side's 22-game Premiership season.

 

 

Chris Pennell was speaking on behalf of Land Rover, who are partner to Hitz, a Premiership Rugby programme which tackles some of the greatest challenges facing young people today. www.Jaguarlandrover.com