Nick Abendanon talks England dreams and life in French rugby
Wednesday 6 May 2015 15:45, UK
European Player of the Year Nick Abendanon has had no contact with England but would love to pull on an international shirt again if rules about selecting overseas players are changed.
Clermont Auvergne full-back Abendanon was crowned Europe's best player on Tuesday, becoming the third successive England player to win the award.
But, just like 2013 winner Jonny Wilkinson and last year's victor Steffon Armitage, Abendanon decided to leave the Aviva Premiership and move abroad, joining the French side last summer after a decade with Bath.
England selection rules currently only allow for those players who make an overseas move to be picked in "exceptional circumstances" and there appears to be no sign of those rules being changed despite calls for the likes of Abendanon and Armitage to be recalled ahead of September's Rugby World Cup
Abendanon, who only won two England caps before leaving for France, told Sky Sports News HQ: "I’m sure Steffon is the same, we would have loved to have played more for our country when we were playing in England.
“It’s often down to a bit of luck and the coaches that are in place at the time. Mike Brown and Ben Foden had also been playing extremely well when I was contending for that full-back spot so I never really got the chance to play for England, so that’s why I chose to come to France.
“If I did get an opportunity to have another crack at playing for England I would be hugely honoured. It’s a dream of every rugby player to play for their country and even though I am playing in France that hasn’t changed one bit.”
Abendanon is grateful for the amount of messages he has received since winning the award, but none of those congratulations came from within the England set-up.
He added: “I read a tweet from the official England Rugby page, but no phone calls. Obviously I have had lots of texts from fans and friends around the world, which has been humbling, but no contact as such.”
But despite placing himself in the international wilderness, Abendanon has no regrets about making the move to the Top 14.
He said: “The fact that three English players have won this over the last three years is a testament to the French game. All three of us came out here when we thought our careers needed rejuvenating and something fresh.
“Jonny had all of his injuries, Steffon wasn’t playing at London Irish and I needed a new challenge and something new in my life. Those sort of things contributed very well and playing in France has been an amazing experience.
“It’s like football is in England – it’s a massive thing culturally and every single week you come up against the world’s best players – that can only encourage improvement in your game.
“When I left Bath I had been there for 10 years. Bath, as they have shown this year, have been on extremely good form. They have a great structure there with great coaches, and they are a club that is going to improve year on year.
"I probably would have continued to play well if I had stayed in England but coming out here to a huge club like Clermont, playing with the likes of Wesley Fofana, Aurelien Rougerie - you could go through almost everyone on our team-sheet - has given me a different view on the game tactically and motivation-wise.
"It doesn’t work out for everyone that comes over here but for me it has been magical."
