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.’