Source link : https://rugby-247.com/2025/01/14/new-english-rugby-captain-for-six-nations/
England’s Maro Itoje celebrates after the game.
Photo: Billy Stickland/Photosport
England rugby coach Steve Borthwick’s sprung a surprise naming lock Maro Itoje his new captain in place of Jamie George for the Six Nations, though the hooker was still included in the 36-man training group.
George, 34, took over the captaincy from Owen Farrell after the 2023 World Cup, but has routinely been hauled off early in the second half of games, with Itoje taking over the captaincy duties.
England let late leads slip in many of their matches in 2024 and Borthwick was regularly questioned about his team’s ability to close games out with his captain usually watching, helpless, from the sidelines.
Itoje, 30, has 88 caps and has long been touted as captaincy material after leading the under-20s team to their Junior World Cup triumph in 2014.
He has also taken over the captaincy of Saracens – ahead of George – this season, though the jury is still out somewhat over his on-pitch influence.
“He is a calm, influential leader, renowned for his commitment to upholding high standards and his ability to motivate those around him,” Borthwick said of Itoje.
England head coach Steve Borthwick
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
“His strong rapport with the squad and coaches, combined with his leadership experience at Saracens, makes him ideally placed to take on this responsibility.”
Borthwick said that having his captain on the pitch for most, if not all, of a match was also a factor in his decision. “Definitely, I think if you ask any coach, the preference would always be to have the captain on for 80 minutes,” he said.
“Jamie’s disappointed, as anybody would be, he’s a very proud Englishman and he’s led the team over the last 12 months with a great deal of pride. But one of Jamie’s great strengths as a leader, as a person, as a player, is that he always put the team first.”
England’s Jamie George scores against the Wallabies in 2016 series win
Photo: Photosport
Itoje said: “I am incredibly humbled and honoured to have been asked by Steve to be England captain. It’s a truly incredible privilege for both me and my family.
“With the role comes a great deal of responsibility, but I’m at a point in my career where I feel ready to give my all to serve the team and the fans with the captaincy, and also produce my best on the field.”
England begin their Six Nations campaign away to Ireland on February 1 and then host France the following week and need to find an uplift in results after a year where they lost seven of 11 games, including three in succession at Twickenham.
They have won the Six Nations just once (2020) in the last seven years.
– Reuters
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source link
The post New English rugby captain for Six Nations first appeared on Rugby 247.
—-
Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2025-01-14 17:35:13
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.