by 
Maro Itoje has a mantra: “Keep the main thing the main thing”. The Saracens and England player can’t quite remember how he first heard those words of wisdom, but in a career that has now spanned a second decade, they have served him well.
Because there would be plenty to distract a true mathematician, from his love of African art to his charitable efforts with the Pearl Fund and his passion for politics. But his real obsession, he insists, is rugby – and more particularly winning.
“Winning is what matters,” says Itoje, always considered and convincing. The Independent. “It’s a great honor to play for England, but I don’t want to be one of those players who wins loads of caps. I want to be part of winning teams. That’s always been my motivation.
It’s a lovely evening at England’s training base in Girona. At Itoje’s request, we brought two chairs out into the Catalan sunshine – a long day is drawing to a close and with less pleasant weather waiting to welcome it home, the second row is eager to soak up some rays repairers before the start of fall. .
The Leviathan’s limbs fanning out as it tilts, the lock exudes an air of contentment. These were months of personal and professional development for a player who had returned to the top of his game. The start of the Premiership season brought news of his elevation to captain Saracens, an honor he accepted with gratitude. A few weeks earlier, Itoje made his own offer to his fiancée Mimi, with their two-part Nigerian wedding planned for next summer. During this Autumn Nations Series, he will total 90 caps for England.
After an undisclosed health issue left him feeling like he was playing with a “handbrake”, Itoje came back with full, frightening strength over the past 12 months. He’s accomplished a lot, in my opinion, for someone who just celebrated his 30th birthday. “I still feel like I still have a lot left to accomplish. In reality, I want to play until I’m 35 or 36 – and I hope the next five years will be the most fruitful.
The pride he feels at securing the Saracens captaincy is evident. Much has been made of leader Itoje, notably by Eddie Jones, who called him “closed in on himself” and incapable of influencing his teammates off the field in a book written while he was still head coach of England.
They were harsh and unnecessary words at the time, and even harsher in retrospect. While Jones’s criticisms might have forced others to radically change their behaviors or beliefs, the second tier always remained true to themselves.
“If you look at great leaders of the past, the common trait among them is authenticity,” he explains. “If you try to be something you’re not, or live up to a certain personality, people will see through it. The goal is to be authentic. There are things that you improve and work on, just like you would in any other area of your life.
“I tried to be consistent in my behavior, whether I had this title or not. Obviously, I’m not captain here, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have leadership responsibilities.
A politics graduate from the School of Oriental and African Studies, Itoje looks at the world with open eyes. He lists six or seven political podcasts that he listens to regularly: “I would have to say The rest is politics is my favorite because I know Alastair Campbell, but they don’t need approval” – and a recent visit to 10 Downing Street only piqued his interest further.
“I will come back, for sure – I don’t know in what role yet, but I will come back,” Itoje says with a wry smile. “I will find my way through these doors one way or another.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t engage in some sort of politics. I enjoy listening to podcasts, even ones that don’t align with my politics. It’s healthy to hear what others think. It helps to go out in certain environments where you might be a little uncomfortable, because you never know who you might meet or what it will lead to. Life is a series of sliding doors, and it’s good to be open to see what might be possible.
This is a brief digression, because we will soon talk about rugby again. Not only are there club and country honors to pursue this season, but Itoje is already thinking about next summer and a British and Irish Lions tour which he really hopes to take part in. He has already worn the scarlet shirt with such distinction on tours of New Zealand and South Africa; a trip to Australia would complete the package.
“Without losing sight of what’s in front of you, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t an ambition. It is the ambition of every British and Irish player to wear this red jersey. But the most important thing is performance and I have to make sure I perform at a level that suits this jersey.
“That 2017 Lions tour, the whole atmosphere and experience was really special. It was the closest I’ve ever felt to being a Beatle, it was manic and crazy. It’s something which I look back on with great fondness.
Itoje was just a kid then, the youngest member of the touring band. Today he is one of a number of serious contenders for the title of leader of the pride. The lock is smart enough to play politician as I inquire about his captaincy ambitions. “My goal with all these things is just to play good rugby. [Lions head coach] Andy [Farrell] will make decisions that suit the team. My goal is to play as best I can to make sure I’m in the mix.
The first step towards this goal comes against New Zealand at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday. It’s an autumn of opportunity for England, with the three great beasts of the southern hemisphere all visiting before a final clash with Jones’ Japan. Clear progress has been made by Steve Borthwick’s side in 2024, but this looks set to be a vital autumn to prove their potential and turn valiant defeats into stirring victories.
“When you play some of these southern hemisphere teams there’s a different vibe – they’re the ones you really get excited about. Every game is a big game, the Six Nations is huge, but these are special.
“Steve [Borthwick] has high standards. He has these standards because he knows what we are capable of and what we can achieve. I welcome it. I am someone who likes feedback and honesty. I really respect coaches who say things like that. Steve isn’t going to tell you things just to excite you. He is very intentional, very honest and wants the team to improve. We feel like we can be a real team and start winning tournaments and trophies again.
So Maro, the best is yet to come? “Amen.”
