The Guardian has reported that Maro Itoje is set to be announced as the captain for the British & Irish Lions’ upcoming tour of Australia. This marks the first time in 24 years that a British player will lead the team, a decision expected to be revealed during a live event at O2 as part of Andy Farrell’s announcement.
Last weekend, Itoje emerged as the frontrunner for the captaincy after Kaelan Doris sustained a shoulder injury that will require surgery. With questions surrounding the Irish captain’s participation in the tour, Itoje’s selection as captain seems to pave the way for a robust squad of 40 players.
At 30 years old, Itoje is gearing up for his third tour with the Lions. He previously made an impression as the youngest team member in 2017 against New Zealand and was notably one of the standout players during the challenging series against South Africa in 2021.
Previously, Owen Farrell held the captaincy for a tour to South Africa, but he was overlooked following earlier selections of other captains like Steve Borthwick and Chris Robshaw. Itoje now has the opportunity to make history as the first British Lions captain to lead on consecutive tours since 2001.
Having been seen as a leader since winning the Junior World Cup title with the England Under-20 team in 2014, Itoje was named Saracens captain this season. However, following a transition at the helm of the England team, he stepped up as the captain, taking over from Jamie George.
Under Itoje’s leadership, England faced challenges, losing their inaugural Six Nations match to Ireland, yet they bounced back with four consecutive victories, prompting Borthwick to back Itoje’s suitability for the Lions captaincy. As Borthwick noted, “Maro is absolutely outstanding. He sets a strong example and has consistently improved throughout this campaign.”
In the lead-up to Thursday’s announcement, the Lions captain’s name will only be revealed on stage as Ieuan Evans reads from Farrell’s list, aiming for an audience of around 2,000 people. Ticket sales, priced at £65, were still lagging earlier this week for this free-streaming event.
Meanwhile, Farrell and his assistant coach are convening for final discussions, weighing the impact of multiple injuries, including Doris’s. Of the anticipated 40-player roster, it’s expected that 22 will be forwards. Four years ago, Warren Gatland selected 37 players, though there won’t be mid-week matches this time between the first and second tests.
On Wednesday evening, Itoje is scheduled to dine with former Lions players like Johnson, Sam Warburton, and Brian O’Driscoll.
This week, Rugby Saracens Director Mark McCall passionately endorsed Itoje’s captaincy potential.
“He has thrived in his role as England captain and performed very well during the Six Nations, but he’s stepped it up even further for us,” McCall stated, asserting that Itoje is in the best form of his career. “Maro is a natural leader due to his performance and consistency. If he’s chosen to captain, he’ll be at his peak and in great health.”
He added, “Maro effectively engages senior players around him. There will certainly be many great leaders on this Lions tour, and he’s adept at leveraging that leadership group.”
