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Maro Itoje Named British and Irish Lions Captain

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Maro Itoje has been appointed captain of the British and Irish Lions for their Australian tour, marking the first English captain in 24 years. Itoje succeeds Alun Wyn Jones and will lead the team against Australia in the Test series.



Maro Itoje has been named captain of the British and Irish Lions for their upcoming tour of Australia. The 30-year-old England lock expressed his gratitude, saying he was “deeply honoured and humbled” by the appointment.


Itoje makes history as the first Black player to lead the Lions and just the third Englishman in 89 years to hold the role. He will lead the team on their tour of Australia, a significant moment for the Saracens lock.


England rugby player Maro Itoje expressed his excitement for the upcoming Lions tour, saying, “I will do my best to do the role justice. I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead, it’s going to be a great tour. I know the appetite amongst the players is extremely high, everyone is hungry to be a Lion and I can’t wait to play my role.”


This will be Itoje's third Lions tour, following his debut as the youngest player in New Zealand in 2017 and a standout performance in South Africa in 2021, where he cemented his reputation as one of the team's key players.


Maro Itoje was appointed England captain in January, replacing Jamie George, and led his team to second place in the Six Nations Championship with four consecutive wins. His leadership skills and experience made him an obvious choice for the role.


Itoje becomes the first Englishman to captain the British and Irish Lions since Martin Johnson in 2001, marking a significant milestone 24 years in the making. As the London-born son of Nigerian parents, Itoje's appointment is historic, and he's poised to make a lasting impact on the tour. A shoulder injury to Ireland's Caelan Doris paved the way for Itoje's appointment as Lions captain.


Key Highlights of Maro Itoje's Career:

Captaincy: First Englishman to lead the Lions since Martin Johnson in 2001 and only the second in the professional era.
Experience: 93 England appearances and six Test appearances for the Lions.
Tour History: Embarking on his third Lions tour after participating in New Zealand (2017) and South Africa (2021).
Achievement: Led England to second place in the Six Nations Championship with four consecutive wins.


Maro Itoje received the news of his captaincy via an unexpected call from Lions head coach Andy Farrell on Tuesday. Despite the poor signal and unfamiliar Irish number, Itoje recognized Farrell's distinct English accent.


“It's a tremendous honour, privilege, you think about the people who have held this position before and it's remarkable,” Itoje said, reflecting on the significance of being named captain of the British and Irish Lions.


Maro Itoje recently had dinner with past British and Irish Lions captains, an experience he described as inspiring. “It was amazing to be a part of that,” he said, highlighting the passion and appreciation that shone through from the former captains. Itoje emphasized the responsibility that comes with his new role, stating, "It’s our responsibility now to take it forward and to make sure the Lions continues to be in an elevated position". This moment signifies a new chapter for Itoje, who becomes the first Englishman to captain the Lions since Martin Johnson in 2001.




Maro Itoje's leadership skills were evident from a young age, leading the England Under-20s to Junior World Cup victory in 2014. He recently became captain of Saracens, showcasing his growth and versatility as a player.


“He has thrived on the England captaincy. He played really well in the Six Nations, but he has played even better for us since then,” said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall, highlighting Itoje's impressive performance since taking on the captaincy role. This recent success likely contributed to his appointment as captain of the British and Irish Lions for their tour of Australia.


Maro Itoje's leadership abilities have flourished, with his coach noting, "Maro has absolutely thrived on all of that leadership. Maro is very much a leader by what he does and how consistent he is." This consistency has earned him the captaincy of the British and Irish Lions for their Australian tour.


The Lions have a packed schedule ahead, starting with a match against Argentina in Dublin on June 20. They'll play five more tour games before facing Australia in the first test on July 19 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The second test is scheduled for July 26 at the MCG Stadium in Melbourne, and the third test will take place on August 2 at Accor Stadium in Sydney.
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