England rugby’s Christian captain

Saracens skipper Maro Itoje was named England’s new captain before this year’s Six Nations tournament got underway last month. The forward, who plays as a lock and has been capped over 90 times, is known to be a Christian.

The 30-year-old, who does not swear during matches, said that he was ‘incredibly humbled and honoured’ to have been asked to be England captain, and that it was ‘reassuring’ to know that he would have the support of other senior players as he transitioned into his new role.

Itoje has spoken publicly in the past about his faith. He told The Guardian in 2022: ‘Christianity shapes my moral code. It shapes the person I am and the person I want to be. My background is Nigerian and we tend to be religious people. I know that all I have been given in life is through [God’s] grace. That keeps me humble and grateful. ‘Nigerians are vibrant people. They’re colourful and proud and distinguished. But the key characteristic of Nigerian culture is the way we love to interact with one another through food and family values.’

He has also previously said: ‘Everything I am doing is not within my power, it’s through [God’s] power. It’s about giving all the praise and glory back to Him.’

Itoje captained his country at under-20s but questions had arisen over whether he would ever become the England captain, a role he had long been touted for.

Such speculation was fuelled by former manager Eddie Jones, who once said that he might not be captain material, as he was ‘very inward-looking’ and ‘did not usually influence people off the field.’

This view may have been influenced by Itoje’s calmness on the field, perhaps demonstrated by his refusal to swear during matches, a responsibility he has joked that he leaves to his teammates.

Manager Steve Borthwick cited Itoje’s calmness and high standards as reasons for his appointment, saying: ‘With 88 England caps, Maro has been a central figure in this squad for many years, bringing a vast amount of experience both on and off the field.

‘He’s a calm, influential leader, renowned for his commitment to upholding high standards and his ability to motivate those around him. His strong rapport with the squad and coaches, combined with his leadership experience at Saracens, makes him ideally placed to take on this responsibility.’