Maro Itoje

A London boy with Nigerian roots

Oghenemaro Miles Itoje was born in Camden, north London, on 28 October 1994 to Nigerian parents, Efe and Florence Itoje. His first name begins with “Oghene”, the word for God in the Urhobo and Isoko languages of Nigeria’s Delta region, and the family’s faith and discipline shaped his childhood. He played basketball and football, and put the shot for England Under-17s, before rugby took over at St George’s School, Harpenden.

Saracens and a fast rise

Itoje joined Saracens in 2013 and made more than 200 appearances for them. By 21 he was a European champion. He won the Premiership five times and the European Champions Cup three times, and in 2016 he was named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.

England and the Lions

He made his England debut against Italy on 14 February 2016 and won the Grand Slam in his first Six Nations. He played in the 2019 World Cup final (silver) and won bronze in 2023. In January 2025 he became England captain, and that summer he captained the British & Irish Lions in Australia, winning the series 2-1. By February 2026 he had 102 England caps.

Beyond rugby

Itoje studied politics at SOAS, University of London, and completed an MBA at Warwick Business School in 2023. That year he launched The Pearl Fund to improve the education of children in Nigeria, Ghana and other African countries. His cousin Beno Obano is also an England international.