10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Maro Itoje

10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Maro Itoje

One of the most popular players on the globe, Maro Itoje has achieved a great deal in both his international and club career, winning trophies with Saracens and England. 

He received his first international call-up for England in 2016 and has grown to be a fan favourite. Here are a few things you probably didn't know about Itoje.

1. Jack of all trades

Maro Itoje admits athletic heartbreak has been driving force behind rugby  success - Mirror Online

As a schoolboy, Itoje played several sports including basketball, football, rugby and athletics, representing England at U17 level in shot put.


2. Full name

How Maro Itoje went from poetry-writing Harrow School boy studying politics  to England Rugby World Cup finalist


The lock was born Oghenemaro Miles Itoje in Camden, London on 28 October 1994 to Nigerian parents, father Efe, and mother Florence.

3. Relatives

Meet Beno Obano: Maro Itoje's cousin on rapping, training with England and  taking out a loan to save his career

 
 
 
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A post shared by Beno Obano (@obanob)



Itoje is the cousin of Bath’s loosehead prop Beno Obano.

Gloucester speedster Ollie Thorley is also Itoje’s cousin, after his grandfather re-married a Nigerian woman who is the Saracens lock’s aunt.

4. Lion cub

Humble' Maro Itjoe won't let cult status go to his head, saws Rowntree |  The National

Itoje was the youngest British & Irish Lion in the 2017 touring party at age 22. He defied his age to appear in all three Test matches of a historic drawn series against the All Blacks.

5. Poet

England Rugby's Maro Itoje who went to Harrow and relaxes by writing poetry  | Daily Mail Online

Itoje is a keen writer and wrote poetry having earned a scholarship at the prestigious £14,000-per-term London Harrow School where he studied from age 11. 

He reportedly declined when Owen Farrell asked him to write a poem for him.

He then studied for a Politics degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies in Bloomsbury, London at the same time as starting his rugby career.

6. Mentor

England lock Maro Itoje to be assessed by medical staff ahead of Italy  clash after limping out of training | London Evening Standard | Evening  Standard

Itoje was mentored by England's World Cup-winning flanker Richard Hill. When asked who his mentor was, Itoje said: “Richard Hill MBE – he is a former rugby union footballer who played flanker for Saracens and England and is the England team manager – he’s inspirational.”

7. Art

Itoje is a lover of African art as he is presenting a group exhibition at Signature African Art gallery in London.  ‘A History Untold’ (20 May–19 June) features work by six artists from Africa and the African diaspora – and is intended, Itoje has said, ‘to underline the importance of including more black history on the British national curriculum […], breaking down biases that currently exist’. 

8. Model

Maro Itoje's royal links: Inside the model shoot Rugby star did with Lady  Amelia Windsor | Rugby | Sport | Express.co.uk

Itoje has dabbled with modelling. He appeared on the cover of Tatler in 2018 alongside Prince William and Harry’s cousin Amelia Windsor while in 2020 he and his family were part of a Ralph Lauren advertising campaign.

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9. Captain my captain

Where are they now: The 2014 England U20 world champions

Itoje was captain of the England U20 team that beat South Africa to win the 2014 Junior World Championship final. Earlier in the same year, he had scored a try in every U20 Six Nations game.

10. Trophy winner

Six Nations Rugby | Player of the Championship nominee: Maro Itoje

Here are a few awards Itoje has won:

(2015) Saracens LV Cup Winner
(2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) Saracens English Premiership champions
(2016, 2017, 2019) Saracens European Rugby Champions Cup champions
(2016, 2017, 2020) England Six Nations Winner


INDIVIDUAL:
(2016) European Player of the Year
(2017) Saracens Young Player of the Year

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