Back-row Ethan Roots joined the Exeter Chiefs’ in 2023 and has put in over 50 appearances for the squad, as well as four caps for England.
Steve Borthwick, captain of the England Rugby squad, named his squad for the three-day Quilter Nations Series training camp on 19 October, but Roots fell short from the list.
“I think I’m disappointed in the way I’ve let the jersey slip away. At the end of the day, a winning team with good individuals in it, you’re going to get selected. I think just the way things went here last year, that was disappointing and obviously off the back of that, I don’t get selected for things, that’s just the way it goes.
“It’s up to me really, more disappointment in myself, there’s so many good back-rowers in England that if you let the jersey go, you might not get it back and that’s the risk you take.
“Just disappointed that I’m in the position that I’m in but I’m happy to sit here and fight and try to win that jersey back.”
Roots made his England debut in in 2024 during the team’s Six Nations Championship match against Italy. He exelled immediately and received the Player of the Match award.
However, after a rocky year last season with the Exeter Chiefs’, the New Zealander has struggled to make his way back up the ranks.
“Last year, I was looking at too many penalties, coughed up too many penalties to be of international quality. Last year, I might’ve given one or two up a game so, that’s not really international standards.”
The Exeter Chiefs have made a strong start to their season in the Gallagher Prem, with a 38-0 win over the Harlequins on 19 October.
Roots played a fantastic game, labelling it his “best performance to date”.
“It was obviously defensively my best performance to date this year, so pretty happy with that and happy with the whole team and how we’re building . I think we just played the weather right on the weekend.”
The back-row player reflected on the importance of the entire team’s success and the impact it has on every individual’s success internationally.
“Typically, whatever squads are doing well and especially early doors coming into these Six Nations, if your teams going well, you’re more likely to get picked.
“You’re allowed to put your best foot forward week in, week out, you’re going to increase your chances of yourself getting selected. The group on a whole being in a better place obviously aids that massively, so the group does well here and the individuals succeed as well.”
View this post on Instagram
Roots had a bumpy start to the season, which may have had an impact on his chances on being selected by Borthwick for upcoming England games.
“It’s been okay, a bit rocky, round one had a bit of an injury which kept me out of the first game, which was frustrating, sort of been managing that. The game at the weekend was well-suited to my game style and just got to get into my work. I really enjoyed the weekend and I’ve enjoyed the way the team’s been building across the first 4 games.”
The New Zealander regarded his experience of playing for England as “special”, adding to his frustration of not being selected.
“I had my whole family there, my kids and my partner, that’s kind of what it’s all about for me. Playing for England is about my boys being able to be proud of me and what I’ve achieved in my career.
I think that was for the first couple caps and now it’s kind of about proving to myself that it wasn’t just a fluke and that I’m of the calibre to play international rugby. That’s kind of my motivation to get back in the squad now.”
Roots now looks ahead to his next game with the Exeter Chiefs, who play Gloucester in the Gallagher Prem on 25 October. The Chiefs sit at fourth in the current standings and look to improve their position this season.
Stay up to date with all the sport today here:
