Born in Sale, Greater Manchester, Mallinder resided there until the age of 11, attending both Tyntesfield and Brooklands primary schools respectively. He played rugby for Ashton on Mersey RFC until he moved to Northampton due to his father's work commitments as director of rugby for Northampton Saints. During this time he attended the prep school Spratton Hall School from the ages of 11 to 13. He attended Rugby School where he captained the 1st XV and became their record points scorer of all time, claiming player of the season two years in a row. He joined the Northampton academy at the age of 15 and captained their Under 18 side to the league title in the 2013/14 season whilst representing England at age group level from under 16s upwards. Most recently Mallinder captained the England Under 18's to victory in Poland in the European Championships.
Professional career
Mallinder made his professional debut for Northampton against the Bedford Blues on Friday 16 August 2013, in the 56th minute, scoring a conversion in the 75th. He then made his sevens debut in the World Club Sevens at Twickenham and later went on to start for Northampton Saints in the Elite Insurance Premiership Sevens Series on Friday 1 August 2014 scoring two tries and seven conversions in three matches. On 17 January 2016, at 19 years old, Mallinder made his European debut, replacing the injured Tom Collins in the 25th minute. Most recently the young centre has broken into the Saints' senior side and kicked a penalty in the last play of the game to seal the Midlands side's Aviva Premiership win over Exeter Chiefs on Friday 30 September 2016. Since securing his spot in the first team regularly at the Midlands side, whether that be at fly-half or inside centre, Mallinder has shown his maturity and calm as he took some of the most important kicks of the Saints' season, most recently kicking the winning conversion in Saints' European Rugby Champions Cup play-off final against Stade Francais to secure the side European Champions Cup rugby for the 2017/18 season.
International career
Mallinder made his England U18 debut at centre and contributed two penalty goals and a conversion to the 28-6 win over Scotland in March 2014. Mallinder then led England U18 to a 62-5 win over Portugal in the FIRA/AER Championship in April but also scored his maiden try at that level and contributed 30 points in all to his side’s three victories in the tournament that brought the European crown. In May 2016, Mallinder was named in the England U20s and went on to captain the side through the pool stages and to the final of the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Manchester, where England were crowned Champions after Mallinder scored 23 points. On 20 April 2017, Mallinder was one of 15 uncapped players named in the senior England tour party to Argentina in June for a 2-test series.
