YOUNG GUNS
Family history was made earlier this season when Sam and Jack Maunder appeared in a Premiership squad for Exeter together for the first time; two young, English No.9s full of promise both at club level and, hopefully, for the senior England team in years to come.
That match against Sale last September was a proud moment for their father, Andy, also an Exeter scrum-half of recent vintage who racked up 300-odd games for the club and now runs a butcher’s shop in the city. For 18-year-old Sam, it represented the latest step in a rapidly burgeoning career that has seen him promoted to the England U20s squad a year early.
Needless to say, brother Jack has provided inspiration. Sam said: “Having Jack at the club with me is incredible. He’s such a nice guy but he’ll never hold anything back, he’ll tell you the things you need to know and all the experiences he’s had have definitely helped me.
“I’m massively proud of him and all he’s done with playing for the England seniors. It’s stuff we’ve both been talking about since we were really young, so to see him playing for England against Argentina in 2017 and what he’s done for Chiefs is fantastic. When I came on to replace him against Sale earlier this season, it was a very proud moment for the family.”
Sam played his early rugby at Cullompton RFC – the same club Ben Moon and current U20s colleague Marcus Street began at – before progressing through Blundells School, Tiverton, and Crediton RFC before finding his way on to Exeter’s radar as a 13-yearold.
He has never been short of mentors, explaining: “I’ve known Ricky Pellow, Exeter’s skills coach, since I was 13 and was in the EPDG set-up. He’s always looked after me really well and Haydn Thomas and Ali Hepher have prepared me with my scrum-half skills and knowledge of the game.
“As far as playing mentors are concerned, I don’t think you can look too far past the No.9s at Exeter. Nic White and Stu Townsend are very good players and Jack’s exceptional as well, so there’s a lot of competition and we’ve got others like Joe Snow coming through as well.
“They breed them pretty well down here and there’s no hiding place, but guys like Nic and Stu have been brilliant and they’re not selfish with their knowledge. Up until last summer we had Will Chudley at the club as well so I’ve had a fantastic bunch of guys to work with.”
Maunder’s targets include more first team rugby for Chiefs and a solid Six Nations campaign with England U20s, leading to selection for the Junior World Cup in June.
He added: “You can’t look too far ahead and this is my first year in the U20s, but Jack’s just told me to enjoy it and not get overwhelmed by it. When you see the talent we’ve got it’s amazing so I’ll just look to play well in this Six Nations and take things from there.”
NEALE HARVEY