The man of the moment
Maro Itoje has not only written his way into the history books as a star rugby player, he is also making his mark as a philanthropist and even a budding political figure. In what has been a landmark year for him, Vitality Editor, Becky Bargh, asks if 100 caps are enough to make him consider the ‘R’ word and could some mini Maro’s be entering the team talk?
When all 6ft 5 of Maro Itoje walks into the changing room of his old school, Harrow, it’s hard to envision him as a 17-year-old swapping match reports and holding team talks with his peers. More than a decade of England rugby camps on and he has a marginally bigger frame.
But in spite of his altered physique, and 14 years since he last hung up his jersey in this quintessential, brown-tiled school changing room, Itoje looks right at home. This is where it all began for him. Well, almost. He developed his rugby talent at St George’s School in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, and this sporting prowess caught the eye of the prestigious north London school.
In 2009, he was awarded a sports scholarship, which is when his already soaring rugby career went stratospheric. And 2025 could probably be described as the year that he reached his pinnacle. He was awarded 100 caps for England this year, something he says is a testament to his.
“hard work, as well as great teammates and coaches.”
He was also officially named captain of the British & Irish Lions for their Australia tour – a role widely regarded as one of the highest honours in rugby union; and whereby the visitors took a 2-1 victory over the Wallabees, “There’s not many people who get that opportunity so for it to come my way was just an absolute honour,” he says. “I was very happy to do the job.”
Itoje’s leadership journey has been building steadily, though. He led the England U20s team for the 2013-2014 season; and after taking over the Saracens captaincy last summer, Itoje went on to skipper the England squad during the 2025 Six Nations, whereby the Calcutta Cup returned to England after a four year hiatus with the Scots, and England positioned a respectable second to a destructive French team. And his style of leadership – mainly inclusive and grounded in purpose – has earned admiration across the rugby world.
When all 6ft 5 of Maro Itoje walks into the changing room of his old school, Harrow, it’s hard to envision him as a 17-year-old swapping match reports and holding team talks with his peers. More than a decade of England rugby camps on and he has a marginally bigger frame.
But in spite of his altered physique, and 14 years since he last hung up his jersey in this quintessential, brown-tiled school changing room, Itoje looks right at home. This is where it all began for him. Well, almost. He developed his rugby talent at St George’s School in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, and this sporting prowess caught the eye of the prestigious north London school.
In 2009, he was awarded a sports scholarship, which is when his already soaring rugby career went stratospheric. And 2025 could probably be described as the year that he reached his pinnacle. He was awarded 100 caps for England this year, something he says is a testament to his
“hard work, as well as great teammates and coaches.”
He was also officially named captain of the British & Irish Lions for their Australia tour – a role widely regarded as one of the highest honours in rugby union; and whereby the visitors took a 2-1 victory over the Wallabees. “There’s not many people who get that opportunity so for it to come my way was just an absolute honour,” he says. “I was very happy to do the job.”
Itoje’s leadership journey has been building steadily, though. He led the England U20s team for the 2013-2014 season; and after taking over the Saracens captaincy last summer, Itoje went on to skipper the England squad during the 2025 Six Nations, whereby the Calcutta Cup returned to England after a four year hiatus with the Scots, and England positioned a respectable second to a destructive French team. And his style of leadership – mainly inclusive and grounded in purpose – has earned admiration across the rugby world.
“We are all unique, wonderful individuals and we should all be free to express that.”
Vitality Ambassador, Maro Itoje
“My [leadership] style is to try and be as collaborative as possible,” says Itoje. “I try and work with the people that I’m performing with and to help everyone get the best out of the team and, ultimately, that’s what’s important at the end of the day.
“I lead by action, I think that the best leaders do because if your performance drops, everything else loses legitimacy.”
Maro the role model
There’s no denying, Itoje is a cool guy. He’s fronted a plethora of glossy magazines from Men’s Health to Tatler and British Vogue – even the Vitality Magazine as a fresh-faced Ambassador in 2017. But above all else, he’s a family man. When asked who his role models are, the first people he named without missing a beat were his parents.
“I come from a Nigerian family and they have been incredibly supportive throughout my career – they have been amazing.” And it’s this sense of identity that has kept him so unapologetically himself, no matter the dizzying heights his career reaches.
“One tries to have a strong identity and one tries to have a strong grounding of who they are and know what their values are, what you are and are not comfortable doing. Once you are able to do that, once you know that, everything else flows. That’s how I see it.” He adds, poetically: “We are all unique, wonderful individuals and we should all be free to express that.”
Others mentioned bring out the multi-facets of his personality. They range from political figures – a topic Itoje is particularly interested in, he even made an appearance on The Rest is Politics podcast in September (where he was described as “symbol of hope” to Muhammad Ali, the late Kobe Bryant and – as an Arsenal fan – Patrick Vieira, who played for the squad from 1996 to 2005.
But as his brand grows to become, you could say, a household name, does he feel the pressure or expectation to be a good role model? Probably natural, right? Wrong. There’s little that makes this cool guy sweat. “I don’t necessarily feel pressure, I think it’s important that I try as much as possible to lead by example,” he explains. “It’s a part of how I carry myself and that I set a good example to myself as well as everyone else.
“It’s good for people to have those who they respect and look up to, it provides a path for aspirations, it provides a path of reassurance and guidance.” Who’s doing that for him these days? Nothing beats family; heritage and family are the watchwords of this 31-year-old.
“The future is so bright and I want to be a part of winning teams and teams that can go out and do special things”
On the cover of the Vitality 2017 magazine
Maro the family man
Alongside the previous aforementioned differences in Itoje, on this visit to Harrow is the addition of his wedding band. In June, he tied the knot with long-term partner Mimi, in a private (and sensational, might I add) wedding with family and friends, followed by a traditional Nigerian ceremony. Head to their Instagram handles to see the full-scale glam.
His actual wedding band, however, is less glam. No flash piece of bling for this full-time ruggers player, he’s donning a rubber band. Why? I ask. 100 caps apparently isn’t enough for him to consider the ‘R’ word. The rubber band means that when he does (eventually) retire, he knows the size of ring he will need. In the meantime, he’s happy to fiddle and twiddle with his gold rubber wedding band until he has the real deal.
But how many years will he wait before he gets a permanent fixture? There’s no sign of that just yet. “There are loads of things to be excited about. The teams I play in are incredibly exciting, the desire to be a part of great teams is still there and there is still so much for us to achieve from an England point of view, as well as Saracens point of view.
A mini Itoje (right) with his brother, Jeremy
Itoje (centre) graduated from the School of Oriental and African Studies, part of the University of London, in 2017
On his wedding day in May this year
“The future is so bright and I want to be a part of winning teams and teams that can go out and do special things.”
Off the pitch, he and Mimi – who scored the number two spot on Tatler’s Social Power Index 2025, only behind the Prince & Princess of Wales – have plans to grow their very own team. “Hopefully, we’ll start a family in a few years”. But until then, he’s busy helping disadvantaged children with his charity organisation, The Pearl Fund.
What started out in Nigeria has come closer to home in London and is providing school meals and extra tuition to disadvantaged children. “The programme is growing and we are extremely excited.”
In the meantime, as another England camp awaits, during a year that will be his most revered – for now – his current priority? Stretching and reading... he gives a little chortle. “Those are the two things I’m trying to focus on and I hope this year will be a big step forward in that regard.”
What a 2025 it is turning out to be.
