Charlie Ewels: 'That’s my role, to beat Maro in those little battles'

Charlie Ewels has been at Bath for almost half his life, having joined the club as a 15-year-old. Until recently, the only way 29-year-old Ewels knew was the Bath way, whatever the Bath way was, as it had become increasingly difficult to fathom in the years preceding Johann van Graan’s arrival as head of rugby.

However, the serious knee injury Ewels suffered while preparing for England’s series against Australia in the summer of 2022 gave him a window of opportunity to take stock, try something new by going away on loan to the Bulls in South Africa and, ultimately, redefining himself as a player.

“You don’t get to time your injuries, do you, but it probably came at a good time with hindsight in the greater context of my career," explained the Bournemouth-born Ewels, who spent his formative years at The Rec being mentored by Bath legend and known hard man Danny Grewcock.

“I was 27. I literally did it on my 27th birthday, so I will never forget my 27th birthday. I reckon I’d been playing quite consistently since I was 19. At that point I’d had 140 games for the club, 30 caps for England, and a few other games in and around this, so maybe 200 games of men’s rugby at 27.

“The Kiwis get to do a sabbatical without getting injured and I kind of saw the injury as a sabbatical in my career, the chance to step away from the game a little bit and go and get that hunger and freshness back and remind yourself why you do these things.

“I knew I was going to be out for a year, and I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to go and train with some of the best people in the world around athletic ability.

“I got the win-win situation in that I didn’t have to leave the club that I feel extremely strongly about and where I have been since I was a boy, but I also got to go and experience another environment on the other side of the world.

“I got to meet some new people, meet new coaches, see a different way of playing rugby, got to work with Jake White, who is a World Cup-winning coach.”

This season the second-rower has arguably been in the form of his life, better than when he was earning 30 England caps, better than when he was being red-carded against Ireland at Twickenham in 2022, and better than when he was captain of Stuart Hooper’s sinking ship.

It all came to light in another tremendous performance in Bath’s vital 26-14 win over Exeter in the Premiership last weekend. Long gone are the hold-your-breath moments when supporters feared the worst whenever he went into a tackle or a ruck.

The new Ewels is more disciplined and more athletic as demonstrated by his 30-metre burst from a lineout which led to Ben Spencer’s opportunist score at Sandy Park.

The only hatchet job, as far as the remodelled Ewels is concerned, is his new haircut. Shaved at the sides and left long at the back, he would fit right at home at the Chiefs, whether that is the Devon or New Zealand variety.

The soft-shoe shuffle that stood up Exeter’s last defender for the Spencer try, followed by the Haka-like expression on his face, was also All Black-esque in appearance.

Whoever wins those little battles may well win the war and put their team one step closer to reaching the end-of-season play-offs. Ewels can't wait to get stuck in.

“We haven’t been at home for a while, not since the Sale game, and it will be very nice to be back. It’s never lost on me as a player that people want to come out and cheer for us. Those were the same people cheering for us two years ago when things weren’t going so well, and we were losing so hopefully we can put on a show and get a result for those guys.

“People talk about Saracens under-performing but their whole team have been there and done it before and they have some of the best players in the league and some of the best players in the world, so we know what is coming.

“If you’re serious about winning the competition you have to test yourselves against the best, and Saracens are the best.”