Maunder’s body now battle ready after injury layoff
JACK Maunder was picked out by Eddie Jones as one for the future when the England head coach gave the tyro Exeter scrum-half his international bow against Argentina in 2017.
It capped a perfect season for Maunder after he made his senior debut in the Champions Cup, started in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final, and played 14 games in the Chiefs’ run to their first domestic title.
Since then, things have turned a touch sour after a string of injuries wrecked Maunder’s last campaign and he saw experienced Australian Nic White come on board at Sandy Park.
White remains firstchoice but Maunder is now back fit and must battle Stu Townsend, Joe Snow and James Tait for game time. There is also further competition in the shape of his younger brother Sam.
“I’m finally feeling fit and I’m training hard for the new season,” Maunder, 21, told The Rugby Paper.
“I realised last season that physically I wasn’t really ready to play senior rugby week in, week out.
“I was putting myself into areas my body wasn’t ready for. As well as having to run eight or nine kilometres a game, a modern day scrum-half also has to defend on the front line.
“I’ve worked hard on my strength, put on some weight, and I feel better prepared for the new season. The last year has been difficult to deal with, but I’m still massively committed to improving my game and getting back in the side.
“I’ve learned from my early experiences. I never dreamt I’d be playing for England at 20 – there are still people at university here who don’t even know I play rugby.”
Both Maunders are students at Exeter University and are continuing the family’s scrum-half legacy at the Chiefs.
Father Andy captained the club in the No.9 shirt in the 1990’s.
Sam Maunder is an England U18 captain and will train with the Chiefs and also be available for Exeter in the BUCS league.
The Maunders will join Simmonds brothers Sam and Joe as a second set of siblings in the Chiefs squad for the campaign ahead.