Maro Itoje absent from Six Nations launch to attend mother’s funeral
England captain Maro Itoje was absent from Monday’s Six Nations Championship launch in Edinburgh, having been granted leave to attend his mother’s funeral in Nigeria, reports BritPanorama.
The 97-time capped England second row announced via Instagram last week that his mother, Florence, had died in December. Florence was a regular presence at her son’s matches.
Itoje also missed the Saracens’ Premiership fixture against Newcastle on Saturday to travel to Africa for the service. The 31-year-old is scheduled to rejoin his teammates at England’s pre-tournament training camp in Girona late on Wednesday, allowing time ahead of the opening fixture against Wales at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on February 7.
Jamie George, who Itoje succeeded as England skipper, represented his teammate at the Edinburgh launch. George understands the weight of such loss intimately, having lost his own mother Jane to cancer during the 2024 Six Nations. He said: “We’ve spoken a lot. The parallels are scary, really. It’s heartbreaking news. I know how much of a difficult time he’s going through.” He further expressed confidence that Itoje would return fully prepared for the Wales clash, determined to make his family proud.
Head coach Steve Borthwick, who was part of Eddie Jones’ coaching staff when Itoje made his Test debut against Italy in 2016, spoke of the emotional toll on his captain. He remarked, “We are all deeply saddened for him. It has been incredibly challenging for him and his family. Being in Nigeria this week is an important step for him and everyone close to him.” Borthwick praised the second row’s leadership qualities and noted, “He’s developed to be a really powerful captain. We look forward to having him back with us.”
England are currently preparing in northern Spain for the tournament opener, building towards what promises to be a demanding year. George acknowledged the team finds itself in a strong position following 11 consecutive victories, but insisted complacency would be their enemy. “We know that if we are the same team as we were for the last 11 games, it’s not going to be good enough, so our focus over the next two weeks is to become a better team,” he said. The Six Nations marks the beginning of a gruelling schedule for Borthwick’s side, who face trips to South Africa and Argentina during the summer’s new Nations Championship.
In such moments, the intersection of personal tragedy and professional duty looms large, reminding players and fans alike of the profound human narratives woven into the fabric of sport.
