Saracens confirm Maro Itoje as captain for 2024/25 season
Maro Itoje has played 181 times for Saracens since his debut in 2012
©PA
Saracens have announced England international lock Maro Itoje as the new captain for the upcoming 2024/25 season.
Itoje will take over the reins from Owen Farrell, who will be moving to Racing 92 ahead of the new season.
The 29-year-old has been with Saracens since his professional rugby debut with the club in 2012 and has racked up 181 appearances since then. He went on to captain Saracens to a LV=Cup triumph in 2015.
During his time with Saracens he went on to win five Premiership titles in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2023 and also enjoyed three European Champions Cup triumphs in 2016, 2017 and 2019. He was also named the European Player of the Year in the 2015/16 season.
In the international front, he went on to captain the England Under 20 side in the 2013/14 season before making his Test debut for England in 2016. He has 84 England caps to his name and went on to win three Six Nations titles with them in 2016 (Grand Slam), 2017 and 2020.
Itoje also represented England in the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups that saw them finish second and third respectively and was World Rugby Player of the Year nominee in 2016, 2017 and 2021. He also had represented British and Irish Lions in six games.
“I am extremely humbled and honoured to be asked to captain this special club. I have been here since I was 14 and it has been an amazing journey," said Itoje to the club's official website.
I love this club and I feel that we are in a very exciting place with the talent and the people here, the energy we have and the direction we are going.
The great thing about team sports is I won’t be doing it alone, we have lots of leaders in this group and together we can create something really special.”
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall lavished praises on Itoje and his contribution to the club over the years.
“You don’t come across many people like Maro. From his early days in our academy, at 14 years old, we all knew we were witnessing the development of someone special.
"He is the epitome of a Saracens player: fiercely dedicated to his craft, kind and compassionate to his teammates, and diligent in pursuing his education and charity work away from the field. He has always led by example.
"Maro has Saracens in his DNA, and we are delighted he will captain the team and lead this club into its next chapter.”
Saracens will kick-start the 2024/25 season of the Gallagher Premiership with a clash against Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm Stadium on 21st September.
