LIST | 5 Things to Know About England Debutant Max Malins

Thursday, 11 March 2021 at 14:12

byRugby Rucker

Eddie Jones has handed Max Malins his first international start in his England team to play France in the Six Nations on Saturday.

Here are five things you should know about the 24-year-old Saracens speedster who is currently on loan at Bristol Bears.

#1. Sporting talent

Whilst at school Max Malins was also a promising cricketer and field hockey player, representing the school 1st XI at both sports from the age of 15 and top scoring in the 2014 Cape Town international Hockey Festival.

#2. University

He attended Felsted School and as of 2018 is studying a business and finance degree at the University of Hertfordshire.

#3. Hero

The fly-half/fullback names World Cup-winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson as his rugby hero.

"I spent a lot of time out in the garden pretending to be Jonny Wilkinson or Rafa Nadal. Whenever they asked in school what you wanted to be when you grow up, I always said 'professional sportsman', whatever sport that may be."

#4. Where it started

Beginning his rugby journey aged six, Max Malins attended Felsted School and reached the NatWest Schools U18 Vase. It was at Felsted he was spotted by Saracens and he joined the Academy ahead of representing England at Under-18 level. During his time in the Senior academy Malins held dual registration with Old Albanian. He played 19 games for them with a high scoring rate of 11 points per game

#5. Family background

"“My family has a football background – my father was a goalie and my brother could have turned professional. It wasn’t until year 8 that my rugby-loving PE coach threw me the rugby ball and persuaded me to give it a go. I never looked back!"

Will and Sam, Max’s brothers, also attended Felsted, won Hertfordshire age group honours and Will was a member of Saracens Junior Academy (2012/13). Max also captained the Saracens U18 side that lifted the Academy League title.