England captain Maro Itoje was absent from England’s latest training camp this week, with the lock-forward instead being granted time away from the squad following a demanding season.
His absence comes just days after reports emerged that Itoje was present at the same London bar where England cricket captain Ben Stokes was involved in the nightclub incident currently being investigated by the ECB.
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England explain Itoje absence
England head of performance Phil Morrow insisted the decision was purely based on player welfare, citing Itoje’s heavy workload over the past 12 months.
“If you take the last 12 months for Maro, he has been captain of the Lions tour, his personal life and the general fact that he plays a decent amount of rugby,” said Morrow.
“We always treat players on an individual basis, so this week in particular we thought it was best that Maro stayed at home, spent some time with his family and just rested and recuperated.”
Morrow added that Itoje’s involvement in England’s upcoming fixtures will depend on developments over the final two weeks of the domestic season.
England sweating on lock stocks
According to reports in The Telegraph, Itoje is expected to remain stood down unless injuries strike England’s other frontline locks — Ollie Chessum, George Martin or Alex Coles — who are all set to feature in Friday night’s Premiership Rugby semi-final between Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers.
Calls for player sabbaticals
Morrow also suggested rugby could benefit from introducing sabbaticals for elite players, similar to those used in New Zealand.
“Do I think it is a good idea? Probably,” he said. “In principle, would it be great for someone to take six months off and get their body right? Absolutely. The challenge is always who pays for it.”
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10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Maro Itoje
1. He Was a National-Level Shot PutterBefore fully committing to rugby, Itoje excelled in athletics. He represented England Schools in shot put and was one of the country’s most promising young throwers.
2. His Full Name Is Longer Than Most Fans RealiseHis full name is Oghenemaro Miles Itoje. “Maro” is simply a shortened version that stuck throughout his rugby career.
3. He Has a Politics DegreeAway from rugby, Itoje studied Politics at the prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), part of the University of London.
