Why Itoje’s relishing England’s fresh start
New-look lock can’t wait to lead the rebuild
STEPPING into England’s training camp on the Costa Brava yesterday, Maro Itoje was sporting a fresh new look. For the first time since 2016, his trademark dreadlocks had gone. His new style? High and tight, with a pearl earring from his parents.
‘I felt it was time to freshen things up,’ said the lock. ‘I have had that hairstyle for pretty much eight or nine years. At this stage of my life, most people know me with that hairstyle but for the previous 20 years I had a variety of hairstyles. I thought, “Start of a new year, start of a new chapter, hairstyle let’s have and a difd different freshen things up”.’
There was a symbolism behind the change. England are entering a new era, post- Owen Farrell, and the Saracens lock plans to be very muchh a part of it. He has committed mourturning to the next fouryear World Cup cycle, turning down a move abroad to begin the rebuild at both club and country.
‘A campaign at the start of a new cycle always feels different. We have a couple of new coaches in, a couple of new members of staff behind the scenes. We are in a new environment.
‘ There is a changeover of players, some players who have moved on and some players who are coming in. All of that contributes to a new feeling.
‘ You know, I want to, bare minimum, be at the next World Cup. I obviously want to play for the Lions, put myself in a position to be selected. Lord, you know those opportunities you really can’t take for granted. Being at this last World Cup was an amazing experience. The passion of the fans, the atmosphere, buzz, excitement. It’s a drug that it’s hard to stay away from.’
Now 29, with 76 caps to his name, Itoje will play a key role in England’sEn new- look leadershiplead group. Jamie George’sGe vice-captains haveh not yet been selected,s although youy suspect Itoje will be a vital voice in the ranks.
As well as fresh haircuts,h there was alsoal a fresh energy aroundaro the camp. New skipperskipp George arrived in Spain withw a beaming smile on his face, in contrast to the abrasive edge often shown by his predecessor.
‘Owen is a great player and leader,’ Itoje said. ‘I have worked and played with Owen for my whole career and this is the first camp when he hasn’t been around. He has his own unique style of leadership and he does that very well.
‘ I guess it’s inevitable with the change of captain and the changing of the squad that it will just be a little bit different. Jamie hasn’t changed because he is captain. So far he has been cool. Given my ripe age of 29, I have a bit of experience now. I want to help Jamie and Steve (Borthwick) create an environment where people love being and everyone enjoys being here, but we also get stuck into the rugby. We want to progress the team and move forward.
‘We know the last couple of Six Nations haven’t been what we wanted. The whole thing is to push the team forward.’
England will stay in Spain until next Wednesday, when they will fly to Rome for their Six Nations opener against Italy. Itoje may well be joined in the starting XV by fellow lock Ollie Chessum, who passed the early stages of his return-to-play protocols after failing an HIA on Saturday.
‘Playing for England is the absolute dream,’ said Itoje. ‘I didn’t come from a traditional rugbyplaying background. When I started playing, I didn’t watch a lot of rugby. I remember watching the Six Nations, I was in the boarding house at the time, and all the boarders would go to the common room and watch the Six Nations. And watching the players sing the national anthem beforehand, that was the hook, that was the dream.
‘As I sing the national anthem, I look around and I think to myself, “Wow, this is special, not many people get to experience this in the way that I’m experiencing this. This is well and truly a blessing”. So if I was to step away from playing English rugby, playing for England now, I know a part of me would be eaten up inside.’