Itoje missed start of camp to attend mother’s funeral
Arundell makes first England start in three years on wing
Jamie George will captain England in their Six Nations opener against Wales on Saturday with Maro Itoje named on the bench while Henry Arundell has been selected for a first start in three years.
Itoje missed the start of England’s training camp in Girona to attend his mother’s funeral in Nigeria and Steve Borthwick has opted to name the second row among the replacements. Itoje has a remarkable record of appearing in every minute of England’s matches for the last six Six Nations campaigns but Alex Coles and Ollie Chessum assume second-row duties against Wales.
George attended the Six Nations launch in Edinburgh last week in Itoje’s absence and will lead England on Saturday on his own for the first time since the autumn of 2024, having shared the role with George Ford on last summer’s tour of Argentina. The last time Itoje was named among the replacements was against Fiji last autumn when Ellis Genge took the responsibility. Genge has been named vice-captain along with Ford for Saturday’s fixture. It is understood that Itoje will assume the role as soon as he enters the field.
