Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has admitted Maro Itoje’s international captaincy commitments may affect his position at club level. The 30-year-old is the new favourite to be named leader of the British and Irish Lions when head coach Andy Farrell confirms his squad today.
Caelan Doris had been expected to take the role. However, the Irish No.8 has announced he now has to undergo shoulder surgery and appears a major doubt for the plane to Australia. The news has left Itoje as the leading candidate after the second row took over the England captaincy for this year’s Six Nations.
He’s now followed in the footsteps of former team-mate Owen Farrell by leading club and country at the same time. McCall has now admitted he is planning on holding talks with the star over his increased workload and responsibilities.
“Maro has absolutely thrived on all of that leadership,” he said, ahead of Saracens’ Gallagher Premiership match this Saturday against Newcastle. “I asked Owen (Farrell) a few years back, when too much leadership is too much leadership, because he was doing club and country for a long time.
“We are probably going to have to explore that with Maro at some point. But my guess would be that he loves it, and he will want to keep it all going.”
McCall also argued that Itoje’s club form had benefited from being England’s skipper, leading the Red Roses to second place in the Championship with four wins from five matches. The former Ulster and Ireland player also believes his player would signify the perfect choice for Farrell Snr.
“Maro is very much a leader by what he does and how consistent he is. He is playing as well as he has ever played, so if he is chosen to be Lions captain, the good news is that he is right on top of his game at the moment and is as fit as he can be.”
Itoje, who has 92 caps for his country, has already toured twice with the Lions in 2019 and 2021. He played all six Tests as the tourists drew in New Zealand under Warren Gatland, before losing 2-1 on the Covid-affected trip to South Africa four years later.