Maro Itoje Returns Refreshed After England Mini-Sabbatical

Maro Itoje says his summer away from England duty has left him refreshed as he prepares to return for Saracens and a demanding autumn international schedule. The Guardian reported that the England captain was rested for all three of the national team’s Nations Championship matches in July after an intense period on and off the field.

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England head coach Steve Borthwick offered Itoje the chance to take a mini-sabbatical with the 2027 Rugby World Cup approaching. Itoje, who also captained the British & Irish Lions, initially found the idea surprising because stepping away had not occurred to him as an option. He ultimately accepted that the break was the right decision.

Itoje said the time off allowed him to recover mentally after a busy year that included leadership responsibilities for club and country and the death of his mother last year. He deliberately kept some distance from England’s summer campaign and chose not to watch the matches live, believing that the emotional involvement would work against the purpose of taking a break.

The spell away also gave Itoje his first full pre-season with Saracens since 2014. He said the uninterrupted preparation enabled him to work on his body, spend time around the squad and focus on himself. His long run with England, Saracens and the Lions has often extended his seasons through domestic, European and international campaigns.

Itoje, who turns 32 in October, believes carefully planned breaks can help leading players extend their careers, although he stressed that each case should be handled individually. He noted that the timing mattered because another suitable window might not have appeared before the next World Cup cycle reached its decisive stage.

His immediate focus is the start of the Prem season with Saracens. England then face four Tests on consecutive weekends in November, beginning against Australia on November 8. Itoje said he was encouraged by England’s final two summer results under the captaincy of Saracens teammate Jamie George and hopes the rest period will help him return as a better player.