Itoje Sidelined as England Prepares for Challenging Summer Schedule
England captain Maro Itoje will not participate in this summer's Nations Championship, including the Test against South Africa on July 4. The decision to rest the 31-year-old follows his exceeding World Rugby's recommendation of playing a maximum of 30 games per season in his last two campaigns. Itoje's recent commitments have included leading England, captaining Saracens, and skippering the British and Irish Lions in their series victory over Australia last summer. He has also been dealing with the personal loss of his mother, Florence, who passed away in December.
New Talent Joins the Ranks
Jamie George, who previously led England and stepped back into the captaincy role during the Six Nations, will lead a squad that introduces five uncapped players. Among these new additions is Saracens' 19-year-old wing Noah Caluori, who secured his spot over several rivals, including Adam Radwan, Tom Roebuck, and Henry Arundell. Caluori's exceptional aerial ability and his joint-top finish in the Prem try-scoring charts with 18 tries this season highlighted his potential.
Bristol centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg, a South African native who will qualify for England by residency for the July Tests against Fiji and Argentina, has also been included. He is joined by Bath's Max Ojomoh, Exeter's Henry Slade, and Gloucester's Seb Atkinson as specialist midfield options, with Ollie Lawrence and the Northampton duo Fraser Dingwall and Tom Litchfield not selected.
"We've selected a squad with a good blend of experience and emerging talent," said head coach Steve Borthwick. "The Nations Championship presents an exciting challenge for this group. We will face strong opposition in demanding environments, with extensive travel, and changes in climate all testing the squad throughout the tournament."
Other uncapped players earning call-ups include Exeter's Greg Fisilau, who will serve as the secondary number eight behind Ben Earl, and tighthead props George Kloska and Vilikesa Sela. Guy Pepper also returns to the back row after recovering from injury.
Opportunities Arise in Itoje's Absence
Itoje's absence creates opportunities for other players in the second row. George Martin, whose strong performance against South Africa in the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-final impressed head coach Steve Borthwick, recently returned to play after a 14-month injury layoff. Gloucester's Arthur Clark will also look to build on his solitary cap.
In the front row, Sale's Asher Opoku-Fordjour, typically a tighthead, will provide cover at loosehead prop, a position where Ellis Genge recently recovered from a calf injury and Bevan Rodd and Fin Baxter are currently sidelined. With limited specialist wingers in the squad (Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Cadan Murley alongside Caluori), Borthwick's selections suggest a potential return to the wing for Tommy Freeman, who played outside centre in four of England's five Six Nations matches.
A Demanding Summer Ahead
Borthwick acknowledged the new challenges posed by the Nations Championship schedule, which replaces the traditional single-location summer tour. England will first face world champions South Africa at altitude in Johannesburg, followed by a match against Fiji in Liverpool, and then travel to Santiago del Estero, Argentina, to play the Pumas.