Maro Itoje: England lock could make shock loan move

With the start of the Championship up in the air, the Saracens star doesn’t want be sat idle between the conclusion of the Autumn Nations Cup (6th December, 2020) and the start of the 2021 Six Nations (6th February, 2010).

The 26-year-old, who had a move to Racing 92 vetoed by the other Premiership clubs earlier this year, has always insisted he wants to experience other cultures during his career.

It’s been suggested that Itoje's new representatives could be set for talks with French heavyweights Toulon, which is where Jonny Wilkinson ended his career. Owen Farrell has also been linked with the three-time European champions.

The deal being laid out is a two-month loan, but this could be extended if the Six Nations, as has been reported, is moved to the Spring.

Maro Itoje, who remains committed to Saracens in regards to his long-term future, wants to be in peak condition and form to get revenge against South Africa with the Lions in 2021.

Here we look at five lesser known facts about the 26-year-old lock.

His full name is much more of a mouthful. The lock was born Oghenemaro Miles Itoje in Camden, London on 28 October 1994 to Nigerian parents.

He 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.

Maro got a rugby scholarship to London Harrow school when he was 11. 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.

The current England star writes poetry in his free time and tried his hand at modelling too. Maro starred alongside Amelia Windsor, cousin of Prince Harry, on a sports luxe-themed Tatler shoot for their October 2018 issue. Rumours in the press followed that the pair had begun dating, but this was never confirmed or denied by the second-row.

The Saracens second-row is nicknamed 'the pearl'. He was given the name by one of his teammates at the Christmas social after he wore a cream turtleneck and the name has stuck.