As a keen studier of literature, philosophy and politics, Maro Itoje may already be aware of Aristotle’s maxim that ‘everything that is perfect comes in threes’.
That has certainly been the case for the 30-year-old when it comes to leadership roles.
Having succeeded Owen Farrell as Saracens captain last summer, Itoje then took the England reins from Jamie George before this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations.
And perhaps the greatest honour of all was still to come, with Itoje installed as British & Irish Lions captain for the 2025 Tour of Australia inside the O2 Arena on May 8.
A man long considered leadership material, Itoje is now firmly living up to that potential as he prepares for his third Lions Tour.
Not bad for a player who didn’t play rugby until the age of 11…
THE EARLY DAYS
Itoje was born in Camden, North London, to parents Efe and Florence, who were born and raised in Nigeria.
Growing up alongside siblings Jeremy and Isobel, Itoje recalls the cultural values that were drummed into him as a child – ‘respect, respect for seniority, culture, the food we eat, and all of those things that are different to Western norms or British culture’ – and says it ‘became normal to operate in two different worlds’.
Itoje was nine when England won the World Cup in 2003 but despite his primary school being a stone’s throw from Saracens’ training ground at the time, his awareness of the sport remained limited.
That was until his headmaster, Floyd Steadman, a former Saracens captain, mentioned to Itoje he should consider playing the game. That, combined with glowing reviews from his brother, meant he did just that when he arrived at St George’s School in Harpenden.
VERSATILE SPORTSMAN
A natural athlete, Itoje took to rugby quickly but it was far from the only sport competing for his attention at a school which also counts Owen Farrell, George Ford and Jamie George among its alumni.
He excelled at basketball and athletics, proving particularly strong over 200m and in shot put, at which he was once ranked second in the country for his age.
But that didn’t stop him honing in on the sport which had truly won his heart.
“Owen, George and Jack came from real rugby pedigrees, whereas Maro was different,” St George’s head of rugby Neil Harris told The Evening Standard in 2019.
“He did not have any rugby knowledge or experience before he came to the school. It was first of all introducing him to the game — he was absolutely, completely new to it.
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“His commitment is off the scale and he has an unbelievable work ethic. He was always knocking on my door asking to do extra skills sessions.”
Itoje recalls in a piece for The Players Tribune his three motivations for playing were simple; a desire to make friends, loving being part of a team and being ‘obsessed’ with wearing the county club tie.
With that aim achieved, the world was his oyster…
SARACENS AND ENGLAND DISPLAYS LEAD TO LIONS BOW
Itoje enjoyed a character-building loan spell at Old Albanian and was just 19 when he made his senior Saracens debut in the 2012/13 season.
He truly began to make a name for himself in 2014, when he scored in all five matches of the Under-20 Six Nations and captained England to glory before later co-captaining his country to victory in the same age group’s World Championship.
Senior honours were then only a matter of time and his England debut arrived in the 2016 Six Nations, when he came on as a substitute in Rome.
It was part of a special year for Itoje for club and country. England went on to win the Grand Slam and completed a series whitewash in Australia, while Saracens won the Premiership and Champions Cup double.
The following year, 2017, saw Itoje become a Lion for the first time on the Tour of New Zealand.
As the youngest member of the squad, it was his responsibility to look after BIL while on the field, he featured in all three Tests – starting the final two – as the series was drawn.
Reflecting on his maiden Tour after being named captain for the upcoming one, Itoje told the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly: "I definitely think I've matured.
"I have a greater sense of who I am and what makes me tick and what I think is acceptable and what isn't acceptable.
"I also think I've improved in the way I am able to communicate and relate to my team-mates. You understand things.
"When you are 21 or 22, you are a little bit brash and a bit naïve.
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"But now I've been around the block domestically and internationally and at Lions level so there's a whole load of experiences that I can count on and rely on."
USING HIS INFLUENCE
There is far more to Itoje than the gifted second-rower and inspirational leader we see on the rugby field.
He has embraced his status as a role model and never shied away from taking a stance on issues beyond his sport.
Itoje spoke out in the wake of George Floyd’s death in 2020, for example, outlining a desire to educate people about racial bias.
"Racial bias affects everyone - so black people have racial bias, white people have racial bias,” he told the BBC.
"But what happens is, when white people have this racial bias and they then get into positions of power - they become teachers, become university professors, politicians, broadcasters - it affects everybody.
"Once that happens, they then act unconsciously - some consciously and unconsciously - on this racial bias, and produce a system which is not equal opportunity for all."
Now installed as the Lions’ first black captain, Itoje will continue to use his status as a force for good and build on the work done by The Pearl Fund, a charity he launched in 2023 funding education in Ghana, Nigeria and other African countries.
The lock, who graduated with an MBA from Warwick Business School in January 2024, has also been vocal about his urge to build a career outside of rugby when his playing days are over.
“I’m interested in politics, I am interested in business, I am interested in certain charities, I am interested in art,” he told Men’s Health in 2022.
“I would want to keep a connection to rugby, but I won’t be a coach, I wouldn’t want to be a pundit.”
LEADING THE LIONS
It has not all been plain sailing for Itoje on his path to becoming Lions skipper.
A lingering ‘underlying health issue’ held back his progress in 2022, while he chose to stay loyal to Saracens when the club were relegated following the salary cap scandal two years earlier.
But he has been back to his best in more recent times and played a key role in helping England to the 2023 World Cup final before starring in his first Six Nations campaign as captain, helping guide a much-improved side to a second-placed finish.
Now, as he prepares for the biggest challenge of his career, he is ready to embrace the honour of a lifetime.
“I want us to be tight, I want us to have each other’s backs,” he said at his unveiling.
“I want us to play with the passion and energy that you expect of a Lions player.
“Our role is to make sure we give people something to cheer about. I want players to enjoy it – this is a unique experience.”
It is a responsibility Itoje has earned – and boosted by his varied experiences on and off the field, one he is all set to thrive upon.
