Maro can be mane man for Lions tour

PLAYING IN THE SECOND TIER WILL NOT AFFECT ITOJE’S CAPTAINCY PROSPECTS

MARO ITOJE will state his case to captain the British and Irish Lions from the second division of English rugby.

The England lock yesterday joined Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, Jamie George and the Vunipola brothers in agreeing to stay at Saracens despite the club’s enforced relegation for multiple salary cap breaches.

Speculation abounds that the Londoners will allow some of their Red Rose stars to go to South Africa in spring time for a spell of Super Rugby prior to the Lions.

But it is understood there is no provision for Super Rugby in the new ‘long term’ contract signed by the 25-year-old.

Itoje said: “The excitement of this group is massive; firstly to finish off this season well but then go into the Championship, rebuild, focus on the fundamentals and come back and hopefully be stronger than ever.

“This Championship year is a perfect year for the young guys at the club and I can’t wait to help them along their way.

“We want to push on, we want to do amazing things.” Itoje added that the “negativity” surrounding the club’s humiliating demotion from the top flight is now “old news”.

“I’m really looking forward to the future,” he said. “The future is in our hands and we still have the power to shape our own destiny.”

Given Saracens’ past contains three European Cups and five Premiership titles since 2011, that is some claim.

Itoje is one of three favourites to captain the Lions against the world champion Springboks next summer, along with Farrell and Alun Wyn Jones.

Head coach Warren Gatland (above) confirmed he is “definitely in contention” and his candidacy has the support of both Lawrence Dallaglio and Sir Ian Mcgeechan.

Due to the Covid-19 crisis, the coming year will not be anything like as bleak and removed as it would otherwise have been for Saracens’ England stars.

For a start they will play nine rescheduled rounds of the current Premiership between September and October, plus a European Cup quarterfinal at Leinster on September 19.

From there they will move to the Test arena, with England hoping to finish their

Six Nations campaign in Italy on October 31 before taking part in a proposed eight-nation competition throughout November and early December.

Dates have not yet been formulated for the Championship season, which means

Itoje and co will play a handful of club games at most either side of the

2021 Six Nations.