Freddie Steward is all smiles as his last dart lands proper within the coronary heart of the treble 20 and factors a finger on the digital camera in celebration.
‘I lied!’ he exclaims, approaching the board at Leicester Tigers’ Oval Park coaching floor after placing on the kind of present that Luke Littler could be happy with. ‘I mentioned I don’t actually play. However I do really – rather a lot!’
It’s no shock to search out Steward in a superb temper. Like on the oche, his performances within the first two rounds of the brand new PREM Rugby season have been mightily spectacular.
After shedding his England beginning spot and receiving robust criticism for being deemed a one-trick pony, the 25-year-old has needed to overcome his justifiable share of adversity prior to now two years. However after spending an hour or so in Steward’s firm, it’s clear he has now come by way of these darkish occasions.
On and off the sector, he’s in a superb place. That is Steward 2.0, a man who’s undoubtedly a power for his membership and nonetheless may be for his nation.
‘This level in my life is the one the place I really feel I’ve essentially the most safety,’ a reflective Steward tells Each day Mail Sport. ‘I really feel a person now, extra grown up. I’ve simply purchased my very own place. I don’t really feel 25, that’s for certain. I really feel essentially the most at peace with my life exterior of rugby I ever have and I believe that is actually transferring properly to the best way I am taking part in. I’ve received my life so as and that’s put me in a a lot better stead to deal with my rugby.’
Freddie Steward is all smiles as his last dart lands proper within the coronary heart of the treble 20 and factors a finger on the digital camera in celebration
On and off the sector, he’s in a superb place. That is Steward 2.0, a person who’s undoubtedly a power for his membership and nonetheless may be for his nation
Steward’s ascent to a Leicester and England star was swift. He received a PREM title with the Tigers in 2022 and was a global common at 20, his big 6ft 4in body making him a formidable full-back. ‘Air’ Steward dominated the skies, his aerial dominance making him a priceless asset to the groups he performed in.
However when World Rugby made a big legislation tweak in late 2024, it had a huge impact on each Steward and England’s fortunes. A stricter enforcement on penalising gamers for blocking members of the opposition in kick-chase conditions and aerial battles made claiming the ball much more of a lottery. Steward’s superpower was negated.
The legislation change additionally lower quick England’s progress. Their kick-to-regain ways noticed Steve Borthwick’s group win 12 straight matches, earlier than the wheels fell off on this 12 months’s Six Nations. Steward fell out of favour consequently, with Borthwick favouring George Furbank, Elliot Daly after which Marcus Smith within the white No15 shirt.
Steward began the 2026 Six Nations video games with Wales, Scotland and Eire, however was substituted earlier than half-time within the final of these matches. He hasn’t performed a minute of Check motion since, and Borthwick is urging him so as to add one other dimension to his sport.
‘It was troublesome. That was most likely one of many lowest factors in my profession,’ Steward says wanting again to the Eire sport, when he was hauled off for Smith on 39 minutes with England 22-0 down and on their strategy to a thumping dwelling defeat.
‘On the time, it was embarrassing for me to stroll off in entrance of my family and friends and 80,000 individuals. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, however it’s important to take it on the chin.
‘I had a superb chat with Steve about it. I understood his causes and I might by no means go in opposition to his choice. We would have liked to vary our ways in that sport and convey on a extra attacking full-back. However even when you possibly can settle for a call, it’s nonetheless not straightforward.’
Leicester’s opening two league video games this season – a rollercoaster, slender defeat by Saracens and a win at Newcastle – have offered irrefutable proof that Steward has listened.
Steward’s superpower was all the time his aerial skill – and it carried him into the England group at simply 20, with 44 Check caps now beneath his belt
Steward was hooked earlier than half-time within the dwelling defeat by Eire on this 12 months’s Six Nations, and hasn’t performed a minute for his nation since
‘On the time, it was embarrassing for me to stroll off in entrance of my family and friends and 80,000 individuals. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, however it’s important to take it on the chin’
In opposition to the Crimson Bulls, he confirmed dexterity with a grubber kick by way of for Adam Radwan to attain, and on the opening weekend, Steward performed a key position in every of Leicester wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb’s three tries – first with a high-quality move out of contact after which with two counter-attacking runs.
These weren’t weapons in Steward’s arsenal beforehand. They’re now.
‘It is no secret I wanted to make enhancements in my attacking sport,’ he admits. ‘It wanted to occur to attempt to get within the England group. It is one thing I’ve all the time wished to enhance as a result of I used to be barely too one-dimensional.
‘I labored actually onerous within the low season so as to add explosiveness to my sport and be extra highly effective. Kick returns are so, so necessary now. I’ve received my high-ball stuff, however I’ve had some good conversations with Steve and as a giant lad, operating the ball again could be a actual level of distinction.
‘I’ve not misplaced an excessive amount of weight. I’m making an attempt to be a bit extra highly effective and dynamic. Quite a lot of it has been confidence. Earlier than I used to be joyful to not be in positions to make a distinction. I used to be joyful for everybody else to do this. Now, I really feel virtually a duty, particularly at Leicester, to be a difference-maker, a second playmaker and to become involved extra.
‘I really feel in a very good place with my sport. I have never been capable of say that for the final two or three years. I really feel bodily I am in the perfect form I have been in. I simply really feel assured. I really feel like I could make issues occur. Earlier than, I most likely did not have that.’
Don’t rule out a revived Steward regaining the England No15 shirt this autumn. Furbank has loved a rotten string of luck, accidents and diseases wrecking his Check ambitions and he’s now taking part in in a struggling Harlequins group. Smith, now Furbank’s membership team-mate, stays a fly-half who can play full-back.
Steward is a specialist and his response each to Borthwick’s calls for and the social media abuse he acquired on the again of England defeats has been spectacular.
Don’t rule out a revived Steward regaining the England No15 shirt this autumn
His foremost rival for the full-back place is George Furbank – a dynamic attacking menace however with a chequered harm previous and now in a struggling aspect at Harlequins
He admits lacking out on choice to Smith in the summertime’s Nations Championship video games was ‘irritating’, including: ‘Criticism should not be a large issue. However I am not going to faux it does not get to me. It did have an effect on me.
‘I needed to study shortly it’s simply individuals behind a display screen. You may have 10 good issues and one dangerous mentioned about you, but it surely’s all the time the one dangerous factor that makes you suppose essentially the most. It’s gasoline to the fireplace. You need to use it as a energy.
‘It was undoubtedly a think about wanting so as to add to my sport. Now I can flip round and say: “There you go. You mentioned that, however you possibly can see this now”. I am uber-competitive. At all times have been. However I’m not No1 within the England shirt on the minute, so till I get that spot again, I’m by no means going to be glad.
‘If I could be a full-back who, no matter this new legislation change, can nonetheless go and catch clear, that is nonetheless an absolute super-strength. Sure, within the quick run, it has inhibited me as a result of it is made that super-strength tougher. All of it modified so shortly.
‘However in the long term, I do not suppose it was essentially a nasty factor for me. It was virtually a wake-up name – an ideal alternative to spend extra time on different areas. I’ve achieved that.
‘Giving up isn’t in my nature. A part of that’s testomony to my upbringing. Nevertheless it’s additionally all the way down to this membership. I got here by way of the academy at Leicester and it was by no means easy crusing for me. Coping with setbacks and preventing again is part of being at Leicester.’
Steward’s targets are to take his boyhood group again to No1 within the PREM and go to a second World Cup with England in Australia subsequent 12 months.
‘England means every thing to me,’ he says. ‘I have been fairly clear with myself. This 12 months is all about attending to Australia. I might love nothing greater than to be on that aircraft.
‘Giving up isn’t in my nature. A part of that’s testomony to my upbringing. Nevertheless it’s additionally all the way down to this membership. Coping with setbacks and preventing again is part of being at Leicester’
Steward’s targets are to take his boyhood group again to No1 within the PREM and go to a second World Cup with England in Australia subsequent 12 months
‘At Leicester, the expectation is to win. We’re right here to carry trophies. Final season, everybody mentioned we overachieved and it was nice we received to a semi-final. For us, it was a disappointment’
‘I keep in mind France final time. Though we fell quick, it was unimaginable. It is onerous since you do not need to give it some thought an excessive amount of. Typically, if one thing so large is on the horizon, you virtually try to do an excessive amount of.
‘At Leicester, the expectation is to win. We’re right here to carry trophies, win a PREM. Final season, everybody mentioned we overachieved and it was nice we received to a semi-final. For us, it was a disappointment.
‘The league is so aggressive now, however we’ve received a superb squad. We simply should be constant. I’ve been skipper the previous two weeks when Jack van Poortvliet has gone off. I like main, talking and delivering emotional messages.
‘However I’m nonetheless studying. Somebody pulled me right into a scrap at Newcastle. I used to be first in after which somebody shortly grabbed me and mentioned: “Mate, you’re captain!” I’ve received to keep in mind that!’
