Maro Itoje

Last updated

Maro Itoje
USO - Saracens - 20151213 - Maro Itoje.jpg
Itoje representing Saracens during the Aviva Premiership
Full nameOghenemaro Miles Itoje
Born (1994-10-28) 28 October 1994 (age 31)
Camden, London, England
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) [1]
Weight118 kg (260 lb; 18 st 8 lb)
School Salcombe Prep School
St George's School
Harrow School
University School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
University of Warwick
Notable relative(s) Beno Obano (cousin)
Andre Harriman-Annous (nephew)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock, Flanker
Current team Saracens
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2013– Saracens 201 (140)
Correct as of 8 November 2025
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2013–2014 England U20 10 (25)
2016– England 97 (45)
2017, 2021, 2025 British & Irish Lions 9 (0)
Correct as of 23 November 2025
Medal record
Men's Rugby union
Representing Flag of England.svg  England
Rugby World Cup
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg Japan 2019 Squad
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg France 2023 Squad

Oghenemaro Miles Itoje (born 28 October 1994) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Premiership Rugby club Saracens. At international level, he is the current captain of the England national team, and the most recent captain of the British & Irish Lions. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Itoje signed his first professional contract with Saracens in 2012, making his debut the following year. He received a call-up to represent England in the 2016 Six Nations Championship. He has won five Premiership titles and three European titles with Saracens. At international level, Itoje has been a key figure in three British & Irish Lions tours, and been nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year three times. [4] [5] [6] With England, he has won a Grand Slam and Triple Crown.

Itoje reached 100 international test caps on 19 July 2025, after making 93 appearances for England and 7 for the British & Irish Lions. [7]

Early life

Maro Itoje was born in Camden, North London to Nigerian parents. [7] [8] He attended Salcombe Preparatory School in Southgate, North London at a primary level, before moving to board at St George's School in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. [9] At St George's, Itoje was first introduced to rugby at the age of eleven, [9] and has cited Stuart Mitchell, a local volunteer rugby coach at school and club (HRFC), as being "a massive influence in my formative years. He used to drive me all around the country wherever we had the games." [10] Itoje later won a sports scholarship to Harrow School, a private school in London. [9]

As a schoolboy, Itoje played several sports including basketball, football, rugby and athletics, representing England at Under-17 level in shot put. [11] He studied Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies in Bloomsbury, London at the same time as starting his rugby career. [12] In 2023, he was awarded an MBA from Warwick Business School. [13]

Club career

His senior debut for Saracens came in the 2012–13 season, aged 19 when Itoje played against Cardiff Blues in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. [14] He made his Aviva Premiership debut against Leicester Tigers later in the same season. [14] Prior to this he had played for Harpenden at junior level (2005–11), then in the first team at Old Albanians, usually as a second row forward. [15]

During his time at Saracens, Itoje has won five Premiership titles in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2023, with Itoje featuring in all five finals. [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] He also helped Saracens win the European Champions Cup in 2016, 2017 and 2019. [21] [22] [23] In the 2015–16 season, Itoje was also awarded the title of European Player of the Year. [24] [25]

In the 2024–2025 season, Itoje was announced as the new Saracens club captain, following the departure of Owen Farrell. [26]

International career

England

Itoje represented England U18. [14] He was chosen to captain England U20 and scored a try in every round of the 2014 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and was England's Man of the Tournament as they ultimately finished runners up. [27] Later that year he also led the side at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship and played in the final as England defeated South Africa U20 at Eden Park to win the tournament. [28]

In January 2015, Itoje was called up to the England Saxons squad and on 30 January 2015 he made his only appearance at that level in a victory against Ireland Wolfhounds. [14] [29] Later that year in May 2015, Itoje received his first call-up to the senior England squad for a training camp prior to the 2015 Rugby World Cup. [30] He was ultimately not selected for the tournament. [31]

In January 2016, Itoje was called-up to the England squad again by new coach Eddie Jones for the 2016 Six Nations Championship. [32] On 14 February 2016, Itoje made his Test debut as a substitute against Italy. [33] [34] In the next game he made his first start against Ireland and was then named player of the match in a victory over Wales that secured the Triple Crown. [35] [36] He played every minute in the last game of the tournament as England defeated France to achieve their first Grand slam for over a decade. [37]

Itoje was a member of their 2016 tour of Australia, playing a starring role as he started all three tests against the Wallabies which saw England complete a series whitewash. [38] He was subsequently named the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year for 2016. [39] [40]

Itoje was again instrumental in England's defence of the Six Nations trophy in 2017, this time starting all five games as a blindside flanker rather than his more usual second row. [41] They retained the title however missed out on a consecutive grand slam with defeat in the last game away to Ireland which also brought an end to a record equalling eighteen successive victories. [42] The following year saw Itoje score his first international try in a defeat against South Africa at Ellis Park Stadium during the opening test of their 2018 tour of South Africa. [43]

Itoje was included in the England squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and scored a try in a warm-up fixture against Ireland. [44] [45] He was named player of the match for his performance in the semi-final victory over New Zealand. [9] He played every minute of the final which England lost against South Africa to finish runners up. [46]

Itoje was a member of the England side that won the 2020 Six Nations Championship. [47] His performances during the tournament led to him being nominated for player of the championship. [48] Later that year he started in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup which saw England defeat France after extra time to lift the trophy. [49]

Itoje was included in the England squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and scored a try in a warm-up fixture against Wales. [50] He started their quarter-final against Fiji and semi-final defeat to champions South Africa. [51] [52] Itoje also featured in their last game of the tournament as England beat Argentina to finish third with the Bronze medal. [53]

Throughout the 2024 campaign, Itoje won 15 turnovers for England – three more than any other player from a tier one nation. In the same year, he was also first for attacking rucks hit, with 300, and defensive rucks hit, with 137. [54] That year he scored tries in defeats against New Zealand and Australia. [55] [56]

In January 2025, Itoje was named as the new England captain, ahead of the 2025 Six Nations Championship. [57] In February 2025, he earned his first victory as captain during 26–25 win over France. [58] In February 2025, he became the first England captain since Owen Farrell during the 2020 Championship to lift the Calcutta Cup after a 16–15 victory over Scotland. [59] Itoje scored a try in the last round against Wales as England finished runners up. [60]

British & Irish Lions

Itoje was selected for the British & Irish Lions for their 2017 tour of New Zealand, [5] as the youngest player named in the 41-man squad, aged 22. [7] He was one of the standout players on the tour, scoring one try against the Māori All Blacks. [61] He appeared in all three tests against New Zealand as the Lions went on to draw the series in the last game of the tour. [62]

Itoje was again selected by coach Warren Gatland for the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa. [6] The tourists lost the test series in a closely-fought third game decider. [63] He was again a standout player and was subsequently voted the Lions Player of the series by his peers. [4] At the end of that year, Itoje received his third nomination for the World Rugby Player of the Year award. [64]

On 8 May 2025, Itoje was confirmed as captain for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. [65] He played every minute of the first and second tests which the Lions won to claim their first series victory for twelve years. [66] He was injured during the last game of the tour as the Wallabies prevented a whitewash. [67]

Personal life

Itoje is 1.98 metres (6 ft 6 in) tall and weighs 110 kg (243 lb; 17 st 5 lb). [68] His nephews Brandon and Andre Harriman-Annous both became footballers. [69] He has expressed interests in politics and art. [70] Itoje is a practising Christian and studies the Bible. He has also earned a master's degree in business.[ where? ] [71]

In 2023, Itoje launched The Pearl Fund, an initiative aiming to gather funds to invest in the education of children in Nigeria, Ghana, and other African countries. [72] [73] In January 2025, Itoje voiced his support for the Six Nations to stay on free-to-air television, expressing that rugby should be a game that is accessible to everyone. [74]

Career statistics

List of international tries

as of 8 November 2025 [75]

No.DateVenueOpponentResultCompetition
19 June 2018 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South AfricaFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 39–42 2018 England tour of South Africa
224 August 2019 Twickenham Stadium, London, EnglandIRFU flag.svg  Ireland 57–15 2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches
313 March 2021Flag of France.svg  France 23–20 2021 Six Nations Championship
46 November 2021Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 69–3 2021 Autumn Nations Series
512 August 2023Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 19–17 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches
66 July 2024 Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, New ZealandFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 15–16 2024 England tour of New Zealand
79 November 2024Twickenham Stadium, London, EnglandFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 37–42 2024 Autumn Nations Series
815 March 2025 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, WalesFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 68–14 2025 Six Nations Championship
98 November 2025Twickenham Stadium, London, EnglandFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 38–18 2025 Autumn Nations Series

Honours

Saracens

England U20

England

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 "Maro Itoje player profile page". Englandrugby.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  2. ↑ Meagher, Gerard (14 January 2025). "Maro Itoje replaces Jamie George as England captain for Six Nations". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Treacy, Neil (8 May 2025). "Itoje named captain as injured Doris to miss Lions tour". RTÉ . Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  4. 1 2 Kinsella, Murray (9 August 2021). "Itoje named Lions' player of the series after impressing against Boks". The42. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  5. 1 2 "British & Irish Lions Squad Announcement". British & Irish Lions. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Lions tour: Results, try-scorers and squad". BBC Sport. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 Meagher, Gerard (16 July 2025). "The Itoje legacy: Nigerian roots shaped the Lions captain who has inspired a new generation". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  8. ↑ Schofield, Daniel (13 November 2015). "England future star Maro Itoje showing with Saracens that age and experience are irrelevant" . The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Moore-Bridger, Benedict; Coleman, Liam (31 October 2019). "How England's Maro Itoje went from gangly teenager to World Cup giant". The Standard . Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  10. ↑ "Things you only know if you're England rugby star Maro Itoje". Vitality. 5 February 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  11. ↑ Hamilton, Tom (19 June 2014). "England's new thinking man's enforcer". ESPN. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  12. ↑ Brown, Oliver (30 May 2017). "Maro Itoje – the thinking man's forward in the Lions squad – outlines manifesto for New Zealand success". The Daily Telegraph . ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "England rugby union international Maro Itoje graduates with MBA". www.wbs.ac.uk. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Maro Itoje: England Saxons call delights Saracens forward". BBC Sport. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  15. ↑ McRae, Donald (9 May 2016). "Maro Itoje: 'Disappointments sharpen the desire – Saracens want to go all the way this year'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  16. ↑ Hassan, Nabil (30 May 2015). "Premiership final: Bath 16-28 Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  17. ↑ Pilnick, Brent (28 May 2016). "Premiership final: Saracens 28-20 Exeter Chiefs". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  18. ↑ Williams, Adam (26 May 2018). "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 10-27 Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  19. ↑ Pilnick, Brent (1 June 2019). "Premiership final: Exeter Chiefs 34-37 Saracens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  20. ↑ Hurcom, Sophie (27 May 2023). "Premiership final: Saracens 35-25 Sale - Sarries win sixth title in Twickenham thriller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  21. ↑ Standley, James (14 May 2016). "Saracens beat Racing 92 to win first European Champions Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  22. ↑ Standley, James (13 May 2017). "European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  23. ↑ Mann, Mantej (11 May 2019). "Leinster 10-20 Saracens: English side win third Champions Cup in Newcastle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  24. 1 2 "Itoje named European Player of the Year". ESPN. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  25. ↑ Charles, Andy (15 May 2016). "Maro Itoje named European Player of the Year". Sky Sports. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  26. ↑ "Maro Itoje announced as new Saracens Club Captain". Saracens. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  27. ↑ "Itoje: England Under-20s laying the foundations". Sixnations rugby.com. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  28. ↑ Standley, James (20 June 2014). "Junior World Championship: England 21-20 South Africa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  29. ↑ Kitson, Robert (30 January 2015). "Sam Burgess makes winning start for England Saxons at Irish Wolfhounds". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  30. ↑ "England announce Rugby World Cup training group". Englandrugby.com. 20 May 2015. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  31. ↑ Lowe, Alex (10 July 2015). "Maro Itoje among first to fall in England World Cup cull" . The Times. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  32. ↑ "Six Nations 2016: Josh Beaumont in new-look England squad". BBC Sport. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  33. ↑ "Six Nations: Uncapped Maro Itoje on bench for England". BBC Sport. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  34. ↑ Fordyce, Tom (14 February 2016). "Six Nations 2016: Italy 9-40 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  35. ↑ "Six Nations 2016: England pick Itoje for first start at lock". BBC Sport. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  36. ↑ Hayward, Paul (12 March 2016). "Super Maro! England star Itoje is a modern-day forward whose story Jones has to manage with care" . The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  37. ↑ Fordyce, Tom (19 March 2016). "Six Nations 2016: England win Grand Slam with France victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  38. ↑ Standley, James (25 June 2016). "England beat Australia 44-40 in final Test to complete series whitewash". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  39. ↑ Hamilton, Tom (13 November 2016). "Itoje crowned Breakthrough Player of the Year". ESPN. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  40. 1 2 Lowe, Alex (14 November 2016). "Itoje backed to become 'world-class' after breakthrough award" . The Times. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  41. ↑ "Te'o try helps England grind past France". Sixnationsrugby.com. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  42. ↑ Fordyce, Tom (18 March 2017). "Six Nations 2017: Ireland 13-9 England". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  43. ↑ Standley, James (9 June 2018). "South Africa beat England 42-39 in first Test in Johannesburg". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  44. ↑ Jones, Chris (12 August 2019). "Rugby World Cup: England leave out Te'o, name Ludlam & McConnochie in squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  45. ↑ Bysouth, Alex (24 August 2019). "England 57-15 Ireland: Eddie Jones' side dominate visitors in World Cup warm-up". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  46. ↑ Fordyce, Tom (2 November 2019). "England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  47. ↑ Grey, Becky (31 October 2020). "Italy 5-34 England: Visitors' victory proves enough to win Six Nations title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  48. 1 2 "Player of the Championship nominee: Maro Itoje". Sixnationsrugby.com. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  49. ↑ Henson, Mike (6 December 2020). "Autumn Nations Cup: England beat France in sudden death". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  50. ↑ Mann, Mantej (12 August 2023). "England 19-17 Wales". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  51. ↑ Grey, Becky (15 October 2023). "England 30-24 Fiji: Owen Farrell's boot seals Rugby World Cup semi-final spot". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  52. ↑ Henson, Mike (22 October 2023). "England 15-16 South Africa: Springboks fightback settles World Cup semi-final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  53. ↑ Henson, Mike (27 October 2023). "Argentina 23-26 England: England overcome Pumas to win Rugby World Cup bronze-medal match". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  54. ↑ "Rugby Pass Top100 Players". RugbyPass. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  55. ↑ Mann, Mantej (6 July 2024). "New Zealand beat England in thrilling first Test". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  56. ↑ Henson, Mike (9 November 2024). "Australia beat England with last-gasp try". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  57. ↑ "Maro Itoje named England captain for Six Nations | Rugby Football Union". www.englandrugby.com. 14 January 2025. Retrieved 14 January 2025.
  58. ↑ Kitson, Robert (8 February 2025). "England stun France as dramatic late Daly try clinches Six Nations classic". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  59. ↑ Calvert, Lee (22 February 2025). "England 16-15 Scotland: Six Nations – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
  60. ↑ Henson, Mike (15 March 2025). "Ten-try England rout Wales but title bid falls short". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  61. ↑ Kitson, Robert (17 June 2017). "Lions and Maro Itoje too strong for Maori All Blacks on niggly night". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  62. ↑ Fordyce, Tom (8 July 2017). "British and Irish Lions draw 15-15 with New Zealand as series ends level at 1-1". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  63. ↑ Grey, Becky (7 August 2021). "South Africa 19-16 British and Irish Lions: Morne Steyn's late penalty wins series". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  64. 1 2 "Maro Itoje: England forward nominated for world player of the year". Sky Sports. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  65. ↑ Telfer, Alastair; Booth, George (8 May 2025). "Recap - Lions squad announced for Australia tour". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  66. ↑ English, Tom (26 July 2025). "Lions fight back to win series against Australia in classic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  67. ↑ English, Tom (2 August 2025). "Wallabies out-play Lions to avoid series whitewash". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  68. ↑ Gummer, Alex (23 February 2023). "Maro Itoje". Saracens F.C. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  69. ↑ "Harriman-Annous on turning pro at Arsenal". arsenal.com. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  70. ↑ Moloney, Charlie (9 February 2022). "'I want success away from rugby' – Maro Itoje eyeing future in politics or art" . The Times. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  71. ↑ Henson, Mike (1 July 2025). "Faith amid the fury - how Lion king Itoje keeps his peace". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  72. ↑ Purewal, Nick (21 June 2023). "Itoje interview: Pearl Fund will provide decades of support in Nigeria". Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  73. ↑ "Home". Pearl Fund. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  74. ↑ Meagher, Gerard (31 January 2025). "Maro Itoje calls for Six Nations to stay on free-to-air TV to grow the game". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  75. ↑ "Oghenemaro Miles Itoje". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  76. ↑ Kitson, Robert (18 May 2016). "Saracens sweep honours at Premiership end-of-season awards night". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  77. ↑ "Earl and Itoje make BT Sport Dream Team". Saracens. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  78. ↑ "Saracens Duo Included in Team of the Season". Saracens. 4 June 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.