England skipper Maro Itoje will miss the Test against the Springboks next month
The England rugby team to face the Springboks on July 4 is likely to feature a new captain after head coach Steve Borthwick left regular skipper Maro Itoje out of a training squad preparing for the upcoming Nations Championship.
In the immediate wake of England’s failed Six Nations campaign earlier this year, Borthwick publicly stated that Itoje was severely overplayed and would be spared some national duty during the inaugural edition of the Nations Championship. It seems the head coach is being entirely true to his word.
However, Itoje remains one of global rugby’s premier second-row forwards, and his high-profile absence from the daunting Ellis Park encounter will undoubtedly remove a touch of gloss from the fixture. Springbok fans will vividly recall Itoje’s feisty, explosive encounters with Eben Etzebeth and company during the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021.
Borthwick clarified that he had proactively discussed the decision to rest Itoje for the July tour matches in South Africa and Argentina, noting that the Saracens star had endured a mentally and physically exhausting 2025. His demanding schedule included captaining the Lions on their successful tour of Australia last year, a grueling Six Nations campaign, heavy club commitments, and the tragic death of his mother in November.
