Steve Borthwick Slammed for How He's Treated Jamie George

The 34-year-old Saracens veteran had led England since their Rugby World Cup exit in 2023. However, for the 2024 Six Nations, George will serve as vice-captain under his Saracens teammate Maro Itoje. The decision, described as abrupt by some fans, was revealed by Saracens director of rugby, Mark McCall.

“Jamie has been a brilliant captain for his country,” said McCall. “When you get news like that, there’s always going to be different emotions. Disappointment is an obvious one—especially when you hear it less than 24 hours before it’s announced. It takes you by surprise.”

Despite the setback, McCall praised George’s character:
“What I’ve seen from him over the last two days is just Jamie being the phenomenal teammate he always is. He’s never needed the captaincy badge to be a great leader.”

The decision to replace George as captain may also stem from England’s inconsistent 2024 performances. While they secured a highlight win over Ireland in the Six Nations and triumphed against Wales, Italy, and Japan (twice), their overall record was a disappointing five wins from 12 Tests.

England's recurring struggles in the final quarter likely influenced the move. Without a starting captain on the field late in games—when George and the front row were typically substituted—England repeatedly let leads slip. This included giving up an eight-point advantage to New Zealand, conceding seven unanswered points to South Africa, and twice collapsing in the final six minutes against Australia.

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