Maro Itoje has been backed to star as England captain in the Six Nations after going through an ‘incredibly challenging’ period of grief following the loss of his mother Florence.
Itoje was absent from the 2026 Championship’s launch event in Edinburgh on Monday as he is in Nigeria – the country his parents are from – to attend a funeral service.
He will leave Africa to join up with England’s pre-tournament training camp in Girona late on Wednesday ahead of his team’s opening game with Wales on February 7.
Itoje’s Saracens and England team-mate Jamie George lost his mother Jane to cancer ahead of the 2024 tournament.
‘We’ve spoken a lot. The parallels are scary. It’s heart-breaking news. I know how much of a difficult time he’s going through,’ George said. ‘My biggest message to him was to make sure he gives himself enough time to grieve.
‘He’s had a good opportunity to do that. He’s in Nigeria at the minute but he’ll be back ready to give all of himself to the team and be successful to make the rest of his family very, very proud. We’re all determined to do that for him too.’
Maro Itoje has been backed for a Six Nations return with England after the death of his mother
The England captain has been grieving after his mum Florence sadly passed away in December
Itoje confirmed last week his mother Florence had passed away in December.
‘We all deeply saddened for him,’ England head coach Steve Borthwick said of Itoje.
‘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.
‘I think he will be really looking forward to being back with the team and focusing on the Test matches to come.’
Itoje is captain of an England team that won 11 of 12 matches in 2025. He also skippered the British & Irish Lions to a series win in Australia last year.
Itoje is still set to lead England against Wales.
He has described losing his mother as ‘by far the biggest and most painful loss I have ever experienced.’
Borthwick hailed his leader as ‘a really powerful captain’.
Steve Borthwick hailed Itoje as ‘a powerful captain’ and said he was ‘deeply saddened’ for him
England will step up their preparations for Wales in northern Spain this week without injured Sale flanker Ben Curry.
The RFU launched its strategic plan for the next four years on Monday, stating for its senior England teams: ‘The aim is not only to consistently win senior international competitions, but to do so in a way that inspires future generations.’
Borthwick responded: ‘We want to win the World Cup in 2027.
‘I do think there is a responsibility to connect with and inspire the next generation. I want the players to attack this tournament and come with an attitude to play fast and to play brave.’
Six Nations chief executive Tom Harrison said the deal for ITV to screen the new Nations Championship competition which will begin this summer is a ‘phenomenal result for rugby.’
The Nations Championship will be made up of the world game’s top 12 teams and combine the existing summer and autumn international windows into one competition.
ITV will broadcast the first two editions in 2026 and 2028 in a deal understood to be worth £90million – money which will be fed back to the 12 competing unions from both hemispheres.
It means ITV will take over from TNT Sports who had been the rights holders for the autumn Tests.
Harrison added: ‘With significant investment in the sport from ITV, the game has never been in a stronger position.’
