Relaxing at home last Sunday evening, watching the Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix, there was finally a chance for Ollie Lawrence to reflect. By any standards his own rollercoaster ride from unemployment to World Cup selection inside a year has been a stirring story, even without the untimely knee injury which has latterly sidelined him for eight weeks.
On Saturday he returns to a competitive rugby field, having now cemented his place in England’s 33-man squad for France. His partner and his family were particularly emotional when he delivered the good news; they have been there through all his ups and downs. “My missus just said: ‘I don’t think anyone could have imagined these last 12 months and I don’t think it will ever happen again,’” Lawrence says. “It was just nice to have that conversation. It was one of those moments where you really take it all in.”
