England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie Eyes 50th Cap Milestone This Autumn
England rugby international Luke Cowan-dickie is on the cusp of reaching a important milestone - his 50th cap for his country – a prospect he admits is “huge” and one heS trying not to let overwhelm him. The hooker’s journey back to international contention has been marked by perseverance through injury and a career resurgence at Sale Sharks.
Cowan-Dickie initially didn’t envision a return to England duty when he resumed playing, stating, “I didn’t realy have a 50th in my head when I came back playing. I didn’t think me playing for England would be a thing again.” His comeback was initially uncertain, wiht specialists questioning whether playing was advisable, but his dedication to the sport – “rugby is such a big part of my life. I was desperate to get back playing” – drove him forward.
After winning the Premiership and Champions Cup with Exeter, Cowan-dickie found a new lease on his career at Sale, who signed him when he was struggling with a shoulder injury. “Sale signed me when I was problably at my worst with my shoulder, but they got me back up and running,” he said. His form improved to the point of international recall,earning him a place in the England squad for the 2022 Six Nations and a subsequent selection for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia,though a head injury regrettably sidelined him for the first Test.
Cowan-Dickie debuted for England in 2015, shortly before fellow hooker Jamie George, who now has 102 caps. Reflecting on his England career, Cowan-Dickie highlighted the 2016 Grand Slam victory and the 2019 World Cup as particularly memorable. “I was lucky enough to feature in the last two games of the Grand Slam in 2016,” he recalled, fondly remembering a photo with Jack Nowell and a Cornish flag.He also emphasized the significance of the 2019 World Cup experience, particularly the squad’s camaraderie and their historic semi-final win against defending champions New Zealand. “Even though we didn’t go on to win it, the 2019 World Cup and the whole experience with the group – how long we were together and some of the performances, especially the semi-final – also stands out.”
