In the midst of a wide-ranging chat, ranging from the rebranding of Saracens, his Lions tour experience, the impact the year has had on him as a person and leader, to the young guns who have emerged to make him start to feel his age at the club, another familiar face arrives at the Wolfpack pub. It’s Owen Farrell, who has been thriving since his return to the club after a year in Paris, having made an impressive impact for Itoje’s Lions as an injury replacement for Elliot Daly.
“Obviously, Owen coming back makes any team better,” adds Itoje. “So, him coming back is exciting.” But with his England captain’s hat on, does he hope Farrell will at some stage become involved again with the national side? Farrell, the former England captain, stepped back from the international stage after the World Cup in France in 2023 for mental health reasons after being booed by supporters during the tournament.
“As I said, I think he makes any team better,” adds Itoje. “That’s going to be for him and the others to decide in the direction but I think he’s such a quality player. When he came to the Lions, I automatically felt he was so willing and able to support me with his time, with his thoughts, about how we can move the team forward in a team-first sort of way, which I found really admirable.
“He’s just an impressive guy. I just wish the best for him. I want the best for English rugby. I have a bit of a vested interest in that. So whatever that is, let it come to pass. I think the quality is still there for sure.”
