Jack Maunder called up to England squad

David Skippers

Exeter Chiefs Jack Maunder in action during the Gallagher Premiership match at the Recreation Ground, Bath. PA Photo. Picture date: Friday October 25, 2019. See PA story RUGBYU Bath. Photo credit should read: Steven Paston/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use.

Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Jack Maunder has been called up to England’s Six Nations squad ahead of Saturday’s Test against Wales at Twickenham.

It will be Maunder’s first call-up to the senior ranks since 2017, when he won his one and only Test cap on the summer tour to Argentina.

Maunder’s Exeter club-mate Jack Nowell, alongside Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Alex Moon (Northampton Saints), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors) and Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints) are not available for selection.

Saracens loosehead Mako Vunipola is also available after being named in the extended 34-man training squad.

Eddie Jones had stated that Vunipola was unlikely to be in contention for the Grand Slam champions’ visit to Twickenham on Saturday after travelling to Tonga for unspecified personal reasons.

But the powerful prop is back at England’s Surrey training base ahead of schedule and will compete for loosehead duties with Joe Marler and Ellis Genge.

In a further boost to hopes of snatching the title, wing Anthony Watson and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie are present among the 34 names who will assemble on Monday.

Watson has yet to appear in the 2020 Six Nations because of a calf injury but he has made progress in his recovery and is now staking a claim for a back three slot for the penultimate round.

Cowan-Dickie, the in-form Exeter hooker, has been in and out of camp throughout the competition and missed the victory over Scotland due to the premature birth of his son.

England are currently in second position in the Six Nations standings, four points adrift of first-placed France, who have won all three their matches in the tournament so far.

England squad

Forwards: Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby), Ben Earl (Saracens), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Sale Sharks)

Backs: Elliot Daly (Saracens), Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Maunder (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Jacob Umaga (Wasps), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

 

England