Rugby: Since 2001, Maro Itoje has Been the First Englishman to Captain the Lions
For the forthcoming rugby trip to Australia, Maro Itoje will serve as British and Irish Lions team captain. The 30-year-old lock will be going on his third trip, following those in 2017 and 2021, and is the first Englishman to lead the Lions since Martin Johnson in 2001. Only since January has Itoje served as captain of England.
He has 93 caps for England in nine years and recently guided his nation to a second-place Six Nations finish. Itoje attended the Lions team announcement on Thursday at London’s O2 stadium, which was attended by almost 2,000 rugby fans. It’s a great honour and a great privilege,” Itoje said, adding that he received a call from Farrell on Tuesday but could hardly hear him due of a poor line.
Farrell had to call Itoje again after hanging up in order to offer him the captaincy. Caelan Doris, the Ireland captain, may have cleared Itoje’s way to the Lions captaincy by needing surgery on his shoulder following an injury sustained while playing for Leinster against Northampton over the weekend.
According to reports, Doris and Itoje were competing for the position of captain of the Lions, which is one of rugby’s highest accolades.
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