Captaincy and Rest: Itoje's Summer Uncertainty
Maro Itoje has assumed the captaincy roles for Saracens, England, and the British and Irish Lions within a span of less than 12 months. As the summer approaches, all options remain open regarding his participation, with England's head of performance, Phil Morrow, indicating that a final decision on the captaincy will be made in approximately two weeks.
Currently, Itoje is resting at home instead of attending a three-day England gathering this week. He also exited a training camp early in May, as previously agreed upon. The 31-year-old has played over 30 matches in each of the last two seasons, surpassing the advised limit of 2,400 match minutes in the 2023-24 season and narrowly avoiding exceeding it in 2024-25.
After leading the British and Irish Lions to a series victory over Australia last summer, Itoje's arrival at England's Six Nations training camp earlier this year was delayed due to attending his mother's funeral.
England's Summer Schedule and Potential Rest
England is considering resting Itoje for part or all of the demanding Nations Championship summer leg, which begins with a match against South Africa in Johannesburg on 4 July, followed by games against Fiji in Liverpool and Argentina in Santiago del Estero over the next two weekends.
"We will make a final decision over the next couple of weeks,"
said Morrow, who previously worked with Itoje as performance director at Saracens.
"Everything's still on the table at the moment.
There's a couple of weeks of the season left, there's some people in his position playing games still, so all these things have to be factored in, because it's not black and white, as often it's deemed to be."
Players such as Leicester's George Martin and Ollie Chessum, Northampton's Alex Coles, and Bath's Charlie Ewels are participating in the Premiership semi-finals this weekend. England plans to announce their Nations Championship squad a few days after the final on 20 June.
Injuries and Squad Updates
Harlequins' Chandler Cunningham-South, another option for England's second row, is currently sidelined with a calf injury described by Morrow as "a bit more complicated."
First-choice scrum-half Alex Mitchell, who suffered a hamstring strain while on England duty, has been ruled out for the remainder of Northampton's domestic season but could still be available for the summer tour.
"He's in rehab at the minute and it is progressing dead well,"
said Morrow.
"We'll see what the next couple of weeks brings for him. There's a possibility [he could tour]."
England's concerns at loose-head prop, where Fin Baxter has been lost to a recurring foot issue and Sale's Bevan Rodd is likely unavailable, have eased with Bristol's Ellis Genge expected to return from a calf strain in time for the match against the Springboks.
