The making of Maro Itoje, England's new captain who's tipped to be Prime Minister one day: Straight As at Harrow, a psychologist to boost his pep talks and why Eddie Jones held him back for so long
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It was a cold November evening in 2014 when Maro Itoje stopped in the Saracens car park to talk about his first experience as a senior captain. Here was a softly spoken student, fresh out of Harrow School, who had just led his team to an LV Cup victory over Harlequins.
![[It is a role he always seemed destined for, but former coach Eddie Jones (left) was not convinced by his leadership qualities]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/22/94094381-14284927-It_is_a_role_he_always_seemed_destined_for_but_former_coach_Eddi-a-11_1736892945375.jpg)
‘As a young person you feel as if you have to earn respect,’ he said, beads of sweat still running down his brow from an all-action display. Itoje had just turned 20 and had barely established himself in men’s rugby, yet he was already being talked about as a future England star.
![[Itoje led England Under 20s to World Cup glory in 2014, and will now lead his country at senior level]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/22/94094543-14284927-Itoje_led_England_Under_20s_to_World_Cup_glory_in_2014_and_will_-a-12_1736892945376.jpg)
‘I’m hoping to put on a bit of size and work towards breaking into the first team,’ he said of his international ambitions. ‘I’m only 20 so I’ll be pretty disappointed if I’m the same build in five years’ time!’. Insiders were tipping Itoje as a senior international captain from the start. That or Prime Minister, given his princely reputation as a poet and an academic. A straight-A student who had already led England to victory at the Under 20 World Cup. From the very start, his progression to the top felt like a rite of passage. A case of when, not if. The hype was there from the beginning but it was backed up by Itoje’s performances.
![[Itoje has stepped up well after replacing Owen Farrell as Saracens captain this season]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/20/94094621-14284927-image-a-85_1736885837079.jpg)
Many thought his appointment as England captain would come sooner but there have been a few challenges on the way. When Eddie Jones took over as England coach in 2015, the hard-nosed Australian thought everything had happened too easily. ‘Where are your scars?’ he asked him.
![[Now he will take over the armband from Jamie George (left) at international level]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/20/94094653-14284927-image-a-86_1736885887623.jpg)
Jones compared him to a Vauxhall Viva in the press to counter his Rolls-Royce reputation but Itoje was rarely fazed. He was called up for the Lions in 2017, growing used to the VIP treatment. His reputation exploded and before long he was being invited to appearances with Anthony Joshua and visiting the Miami home of American superstar rapper and music producer DJ Khaled. Just last week, by coincidence, he was signed up by the same management agency that represent England football captain Harry Kane.
![[Steve Borthwick believes Itoje is capable of leading England into the 2027 World Cup]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/14/20/94094677-14284927-image-m-88_1736885979481.jpg)
