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Maro Itoje has been installed as England’s new captain before the forthcoming Six Nations with Steve Borthwick stripping Jamie George of the role after 12 months. Borthwick has also selected the in-form No 8 Tom Willis for a crucial championship but overlooked Henry Pollock.
Borthwick’s decision to hand Itoje the captaincy on a permanent basis for the first time signals his intentions for the 2027 World Cup. The 30-year-old second row was made Saracens captain at the start of the season and has been tipped as a leader of England ever since he made his breakthrough under Eddie Jones in 2016.
Crucially, Itoje is guaranteed to start under Borthwick and play 80 minutes. George, on the other hand, is often replaced after the hour mark – handing the responsibility to Itoje – and at 34, his place in the team is coming under pressure from his Saracens teammate Theo Dan and Luke Cowan-Dickie. During the autumn, England struggled in the final quarter of matches – indeed it was an unwelcome habit throughout 2024 – with George off the field, prompting Borthwick to act.
“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,” said Borthwick. “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. I’d like to recognise the outstanding leadership of Jamie George, whose contributions as captain have been significant and will continue to play an important role as a vice-captain.”
Willis is rewarded for his fine form for Saracens but Borthwick has resisted the temptation to call upon Pollock, who has dazzled for Northampton this season. Dan Cole, 37, is among the most eye-catching omissions while there are just two uncapped players in the 36-man squad – the Harlequins pair of Oscar Beard and Cadan Murley. Cole has 118 caps but was absent from the squad for England’s last match of the autumn against Japan and it remains to be seen whether he will appear again.
George has been a vastly popular captain, determined to re-engage with supporters. He has been named as vice-captain along with Ellie Genge and now he faces a fight to hang on to his place if he is to make it to a fourth World Cup in two years’ time.
Itoje captained England under-20s to the junior world championship title in 2014 but waited until this season to assume his first senior leadership with Saracens. In 2021, Jones claimed that Itoje was not suited to England captaincy and that he had sent Itoje to acting classes in an effort to improve his leadership.
“I might be wrong, but I am not sure Maro is a future England captain,” Jones wrote. “He is going to be one of the great players, but Maro is very inward-looking. He drives himself rather than anyone else. He doesn’t usually influence people off the field.”
In September, Itoje issued a staunch rebuttal of Jones’s claims. “I felt that was a wrong diagnosis of who I am,” said Itoje. “Most people who know me, most people who read those comments who knew me, would say that was an inaccurate conclusion to who I am as a person.”
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After being appointed to succeed George, 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, and I feel grateful to have been given this opportunity.
“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. It’s reassuring to know there is a group of senior players to support me and help build on the achievements of Jamie, who has led the team brilliantly and who has been a great friend and leader for so many years.
“I am excited by the squad of players we have, who are all hungry for success, and I look forward to leading them out for the forthcoming Six Nations.”
Alex Mitchell and Ollie Chessum – who has not played since October – both make welcome returns to the squad while Bristol’s winger Gabriel Ibitoye is listed among the players who will undergo rehabilitation, suggesting he features prominently in Borthwick’s thoughts. With Mitchell returning, Ben Spencer misses out while Trevor Davison, Alex Lozowski and Charlie Ewels also drop out having been part of the squad last autumn.
