Saracens have just dropped a bombshell: Maro Itoje, the powerhouse second-rower who’s been setting rugby fields ablaze for the past decade, has inked a fresh, long-term deal with the club.
With accolades galore and a stellar reputation, Itoje’s pledge to the Men in Black solidifies his place as one of the game’s elite.
Itoje, who has made over 175 appearances for the club since bursting on to the scene in 2013 is a five-time Premiership Champion, three-time European Champion, 2016 European Player of the Year and also a three-time World Player of the Year nominee.
His meteoric rise both domestically and internationally has also seen him gain 76 caps for England including featuring in two World Cups, as well as six caps for the Lions across the 2017 tour to New Zealand and 2021 to South Africa where he was named the Lions Player of the Series.
The 29-year-old made his Saracens debut aged just 19 a decade ago in 2013, and after captaining a young side to LV= Cup success he quickly made the transition to a regular in the Gallagher Premiership.
He has since featured in five Premiership successes at Twickenham, cementing his place as one of the greats at StoneX Stadium.
Itoje is excited for his next chapter at Saracens.
He said: “Saracens is my home and I couldn’t be happier to be staying here. Looking back I am very proud of what we have achieved over the last 10 years and it is the best place for me to keep progressing.
With the squad we have I really believe we have some massively exciting times ahead and I can’t wait to be a part of it moving forward.”
Highest-paid rugby players in the world 2023
RUCK.co.uk examines the top six highest-paid players in the world. We’ve based our figures on reports from trusted news sources and databases to boost our accuracy.
All figures mentioned are before tax – unless specified – and do not include bonuses, extra fees and players’ various sponsorship deals which, in some cases, can instantly double their annual income.
6. Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – £610,000
During his tenure at Montpellier, the Springbok fly-half was known as one of the highest-earning players in the sport, purportedly receiving an annual salary exceeding one million.
However, his transfer to Leicester Tigers entailed a reduction in pay, although he is still believed to be earning a respectable sum at Welford Road.
5. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse) – £700,000
The Les Bleus’ talisman is undoubtedly leading one of the most exciting teams on the international stage, all while helping to change the perception of the sport.
