England captain Maro Itoje has opened up on when he plans to walk away from professional rugby, revealing he already has a retirement age in mind despite remaining one of the most influential players in the world game.
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The Saracens lock, who has won multiple PREM titles, Lions caps and become one of England’s most recognisable stars, believes there is only one more Rugby World Cup left in his career.
With questions also growing over whether he will feature in England’s summer Nations Championship campaign due to workload concerns, Itoje is already looking ahead to how and when he wants his remarkable career to end.
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Speaking to The Times in July 2025, England captain Maro Itoje revealed he already has a clear end date in mind for his glittering rugby career.
The Saracens lock intends to retire at the age of 35, meaning the curtain is likely to come down on one of English rugby’s greatest careers in 2029.
“I want to go out on my terms”
Itoje has never been one to do things by accident, and his retirement plan is no different.
“When I’m 35. That’s a healthy age to retire. It’s a good age to throw yourself at a new challenge and it gives me a good four years to really dip into the rugby.
I don’t want to leave rugby when I’m clinging on. I want to go out on my terms, while I’m fit.”
It’s a typically measured approach from a player who has spent his career setting the highest standards on and off the field.
Summer break could force England absence
Before then, however, Itoje may be set for an extended spell away from Test rugby.
The 31-year-old has been left out of England’s latest training squad, with head coach Steve Borthwick and the RFU seriously considering resting their captain for some or all of this summer’s Nations Championship fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.
Itoje has carried a huge workload over the past two seasons, having led both England and the British & Irish Lions while also dealing with injuries and personal challenges away from the game.
One final World Cup mission
If everything goes to plan, Itoje will head into the 2027 Rugby World Cup as one of England’s senior leaders before playing his final seasons at Saracens.
For a player who burst onto the scene as a 21-year-old sensation and has gone on to become one of the defining figures of his generation, 2029 suddenly doesn’t feel very far away.
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