EURFC graduate Murray settles back into life in Devon

Scrum-half and University of Exeter graduate Jake Murray has once again swapped the bustling streets of London for the quieter shores of the south west and he’s relishing being “a local” again.

Murray’s tenure with EURFC included winning the BUCS Super Rugby league before he returned to the big smoke, and a full-time contract with Harlequins, upon graduating from his sports and exercise science degree in August 2024.

Earlier this year, he was drawn back to Devon when Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter came calling with a contract offer. One which Murray was only too happy to accept.

He said: “The culture of the club [was a big draw for me]. From the outside looking in, that’s always been something I liked the sound of. It was always very positively described to me.

“Also, the way Chiefs play I think suits my game. They like to play a fast-paced game but doing so in the right areas of the field as well. So, I’m really looking forward to working with the coaches here and learning off the players in and out of my position.”

The competition at scrum-half could very well become fierce. At this stage in pre-season, Chiefs are without Italy’s Stephen Varney and England U20s’ George Newman, both of whom are still on their international break, but Murray and fellow newbie Sam Wolstenholme have been going head-to-head with Tom Cairns, who already has 71 club appearances to his name.

Murray said: “I think competition brings out the best in everyone. Cairnsy [Tom Cairns] I knew from uni and meeting Wosty [Sam Wolstenholme] this pre-season, the three of us are really pushing each other and that’s exactly what you want, because it’ll help to better all three of us.

“No doubt when Stephen Varney gets back, he’ll just add another layer to that. I saw what he did last season, and he’s someone I’d like to try to learn off of and implement elements of his game into mine.”

Every player is different however and can bring their own strength to the position. What does Murray believe is the aspect of his game that sets him apart perhaps?

He said: “I like to think I’m quite quick and have a good speed of ball. So, it’ll be about getting that ball up and away from the ruck, giving it to our danger men. Our outside backs are deadly. The likes of Manny [Feyi-Waboso], Paul [Brown-Bampoe] and Ridler [Campbell Ridl], you just want to get the ball in their hands and put them in space, because there they can work magic.”

While the likes of Feyi-Waboso and Brown-Bampoe are new acquaintances, a number of the Chiefs squad are very familiar to the 22-year-old. His half-back partner in EURFC green and white was Ben Coen as the two often lined up on the same field as the likes of Joe Bailey. Having some friends around has made the transition to a new club easier and meant that Murray hasn’t been too shocked by the workload endured in a Chiefs pre-season.

He added: “It’s been great being back in the south west, seeing some old faces I was at university with, both players and coaches. Being back down here as a local not a student was initially a bit weird, but I’m loving it already. It’s a great place to be, especially with weather like this. You can’t really beat it.

“I kind of knew, from my time with EURFC, roughly what pre-season as a Chief was going to be like and that it was going to be different to what I’d become used to back in London. The days are slightly longer and then there’s the dreaded beach day, that always comes up in conversation. Last Friday that beach session didn’t disappoint!

“I knew what I was getting myself into, to an extent, so hopefully there won’t be too many shocks to the system to come. I’ve honestly been loving it so far.”

With just over a week of a condensed pre-season block left, games are looming on the horizon for the Chiefs squad. Murray is waiting with anticipation for those first fixtures however, as it could present his first chance to grace the main pitch turf at his new home.

Murray said: “I can’t wait to play at Sandy Park. I was lucky enough to run out here a couple of times for EURFC, in varsity matches and even once against Chiefs. That was only in front of a couple thousand, giving us a small piece of the pie, so to run out in front of 15,000 people is something that I can’t wait to do. I think it’ll stick with me for a long time.”

The season which lies ahead is a highly competitive one. The likes of reigning Top 14 champions Stade Toulousain await Chiefs in the first five weeks of the season. How excited is Murray at the prospect of what his first year as a Chief could hold?

He said: “I can’t wait to get cracking on the season. I think it’s really exciting this year, it presents a whole new opportunity.

“In the league, we can try to go one better. Last year, probably the expectation probably wasn’t quite there but other teams now know what this team is capable of, so we’re the ones kind of getting hunted.

“We have to raise our game again. It’s going to be a really competitive season across the board, but one that the lads and I are going to relish.”