Position
Lock
Test Caps
93
Club
Saracens

Age
30
Height
195
Weight
118
U20 Caps
10
U18 Caps
9
Maro Itoje profile: England Rugby captain's career highlights and achievements
Maro Itoje stands as one of the most recognisable and impactful players in modern rugby union. Renowned for his formidable presence, tireless work rate, and exceptional leadership, Itoje has carved out a distinguished career, becoming a cornerstone for both club team Saracens, the England national team and the British & Irish Lions.
His journey from promising schoolboy talent to a global rugby icon is marked by numerous achievements, a relentless pursuit of excellence, and an unwavering commitment to his teams. Itoje embodies a new generation of rugby players who combine immense athleticism with sharp intellect and a profound understanding of the game.
Early Life and Rugby Foundations
Born on October 28, 1994, in Camden, London, Maro Itoje's Nigerian heritage is a key part of his background. His parents immigrated to England from Nigeria, instilling in him a strong work ethic and a drive for success. Itoje's athletic prowess was evident from a young age, and he excelled in various sports, including shot put and basketball, before fully committing to rugby.
His rugby journey began at St George's Harpenden before he moved to Harrow School, a renowned independent school with a strong rugby tradition. It was here that his talent truly began to blossom. As a schoolboy, Itoje quickly distinguished himself, playing across different positions, showcasing his versatility and natural leadership skills. His physical stature and competitive nature made him stand out, and he quickly became a name to watch in junior rugby circles, setting the stage for his professional career.
Saracens Success
Itoje joined the Saracens academy in 2012, a move that would prove instrumental in his development into a world-class player. His progression through the Saracens ranks was swift, demonstrating an advanced understanding of the game and an impressive physical readiness. He made his senior debut for the club in 2013, quickly establishing himself as a key figure in the squad.
His time with Saracens has been marked by an extraordinary period of success. Itoje played a crucial role in the team's dominance in both domestic and European competitions. He was integral to Saracens winning multiple Premiership titles, showcasing his invaluable contribution in tight-knit domestic fixtures. Beyond the national league, Itoje also helped Saracens secure prestigious Champions Cup victories, elevating his profile on the European stage.
International Recognition
Maro Itoje's exceptional club form inevitably led to international recognition. He made his senior England debut in 2016 during the Six Nations Championship, quickly becoming a fixture in the England squad. His arrival on the international scene was immediately impactful, bringing a new dimension of athleticism, intensity, and intelligence to the England pack.
He was a key figure in the England team that achieved a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2016 and another Championship title in 2017. His performances in the second row, often alongside George Kruis or Courtney Lawes, were consistently outstanding, solidifying his reputation as one of the best players in his position globally. He was named England captain ahead of the 2025 Six Nations.
The British & Irish Lions Tours
Maro Itoje has had the distinct honour of being selected for three tours, demonstrating his consistent elite performance and leadership qualities. His first Lions tour came in 2017 to New Zealand, facing the formidable All Blacks. Despite being one of the younger members of the squad, Itoje quickly established himself as a key player in the Test team.
Itoje was again a central figure for the British & Irish Lions on their 2021 tour to South Africa, battling the reigning world champion Springboks. Despite the challenging circumstances of the tour, Itoje's intensity and commitment were unwavering. In 2025 he was named captain of the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.
Nickname and Public Persona
Maro Itoje is sometimes affectionately referred to as The Pearl. This nickname reportedly originated during his schoolboy days, given to him by a coach who observed his exceptional talent and perceived him as a rare and valuable asset. The moniker has stuck, reflecting his unique and prized contribution to the sport.
Maro Itoje's journey is a testament to dedication, talent, and relentless hard work. From his early days as a promising schoolboy to his current status as a global rugby powerhouse for England and the British & Irish Lions, he continues to define what it means to be a modern rugby player: a formidable presence on the field, a thoughtful individual off it, and a true leader in every sense of the word.
Maro Itoje news
- Career Path
-
2011 England U18
-
2013 Saracens England U19 Saracens A Old Albanians
-
2014 England U20
-
2015 England Saxons
-
2016 England
-
2017 British & Irish Lions
Matches played
- T - Tries scored
- C - Conversion scored
- D - Drop goals scored
- P - Penalties
- Y - Yellow cards
- R - Red cards
- P - Points
DATE | MATCH | COMPETITION | T C D P Y R P |
---|---|---|---|
Mar 15, 25 | Wales vs England | Six Nations |
1 0 0 0 0 0 5 |
Mar 9, 25 | England vs Italy | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 22, 25 | England vs Scotland | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 8, 25 | England vs France | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 1, 25 | Ireland vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 24, 24 | England vs Japan | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 16, 24 | England vs South Africa | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 9, 24 | England vs Australia | International |
1 0 0 0 0 0 5 |
Nov 2, 24 | England vs New Zealand | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Jul 13, 24 | New Zealand vs England | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Jul 6, 24 | New Zealand vs England | International |
1 0 0 0 0 0 5 |
Jun 22, 24 | Japan vs England | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
DATE | MATCH | COMPETITION | T C D P Y R P |
---|---|---|---|
Mar 16, 24 | France vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Mar 9, 24 | England vs Ireland | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 24, 24 | Scotland vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 10, 24 | England vs Wales | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 3, 24 | Italy vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Oct 27, 23 | Argentina vs England | Rugby World Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Oct 21, 23 | England vs South Africa | Rugby World Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Oct 15, 23 | England vs Fiji | Rugby World Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Oct 7, 23 | England vs Samoa | Rugby World Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Sep 17, 23 | England vs Japan | Rugby World Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Sep 9, 23 | England vs Argentina | Rugby World Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Aug 26, 23 | England vs Fiji | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Aug 19, 23 | Ireland vs England | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Aug 12, 23 | England vs Wales | International |
1 0 0 0 0 0 5 |
DATE | MATCH | COMPETITION | T C D P Y R P |
---|---|---|---|
Mar 18, 23 | Ireland vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Mar 11, 23 | England vs France | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 25, 23 | Wales vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 12, 23 | England vs Italy | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 4, 23 | England vs Scotland | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 26, 22 | England vs South Africa | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 19, 22 | England vs New Zealand | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 12, 22 | England vs Japan | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 6, 22 | England vs Argentina | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
DATE | MATCH | COMPETITION | T C D P Y R P |
---|---|---|---|
Jul 9, 22 | Australia vs England | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Jul 2, 22 | Australia vs England | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Mar 19, 22 | France vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Mar 12, 22 | England vs Ireland | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 26, 22 | England vs Wales | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 13, 22 | Italy vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 5, 22 | Scotland vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 20, 21 | England vs South Africa | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 13, 21 | England vs Australia | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 6, 21 | England vs Tonga | International |
1 0 0 0 0 0 5 |
DATE | MATCH | COMPETITION | T C D P Y R P |
---|---|---|---|
Mar 20, 21 | Ireland vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Mar 13, 21 | England vs France | Six Nations |
1 0 0 0 0 0 5 |
Feb 27, 21 | Wales vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 13, 21 | England vs Italy | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 6, 21 | England vs Scotland | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Dec 6, 20 | England vs France | Autumn Nations Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 28, 20 | Wales vs England | Autumn Nations Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 21, 20 | England vs Ireland | Autumn Nations Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 14, 20 | England vs Georgia | Autumn Nations Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
DATE | MATCH | COMPETITION | T C D P Y R P |
---|---|---|---|
Oct 31, 20 | Italy vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Mar 7, 20 | England vs Wales | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 23, 20 | England vs Ireland | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 8, 20 | Scotland vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 2, 20 | France vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 2, 19 | England vs South Africa | Rugby World Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Oct 26, 19 | England vs New Zealand | Rugby World Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Oct 19, 19 | England vs Australia | Rugby World Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Oct 5, 19 | England vs Argentina | Rugby World Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Sep 22, 19 | England vs Tonga | Rugby World Cup |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Aug 24, 19 | England vs Ireland | International |
1 0 0 0 0 0 5 |
Aug 17, 19 | Wales vs England | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
DATE | MATCH | COMPETITION | T C D P Y R P |
---|---|---|---|
Feb 2, 19 | Ireland vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 24, 18 | England vs Australia | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 17, 18 | England vs Japan | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 10, 18 | England vs New Zealand | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 3, 18 | England vs South Africa | International |
0 0 0 0 1 0 0 |
DATE | MATCH | COMPETITION | T C D P Y R P |
---|---|---|---|
Jun 23, 18 | South Africa vs England | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Jun 16, 18 | South Africa vs England | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Jun 9, 18 | South Africa vs England | International |
1 0 0 0 0 0 5 |
Mar 17, 18 | England vs Ireland | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Mar 10, 18 | France vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 24, 18 | Scotland vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 10, 18 | England vs Wales | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 4, 18 | Italy vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 25, 17 | England vs Samoa | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Nov 18, 17 | England vs Australia | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
DATE | MATCH | COMPETITION | T C D P Y R P |
---|---|---|---|
Mar 18, 17 | Ireland vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Mar 11, 17 | England vs Scotland | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 26, 17 | England vs Italy | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 11, 17 | Wales vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 4, 17 | England vs France | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
DATE | MATCH | COMPETITION | T C D P Y R P |
---|---|---|---|
Jun 25, 16 | Australia vs England | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Jun 18, 16 | Australia vs England | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Jun 11, 16 | Australia vs England | International |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Mar 19, 16 | France vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Mar 12, 16 | England vs Wales | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 27, 16 | England vs Ireland | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Feb 14, 16 | Italy vs England | Six Nations |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |







The second row, or locks, are usually among the biggest physical presences on a team, required to provide power in the scrum, a jumper in the lineout and a big ball-carrying option. Renowned for their physicality, work rate and mobility.