England rugby captain Maro Itoje has been struck by profound personal tragedy on the eve of the Six Nations Championship, with the news that his mother Florence has passed away. The 31-year-old Saracens forward will join his national teammates later than planned for their pre-tournament training camp in Girona, Spain, after travelling to Nigeria to mourn his loss and attend the funeral.
Team Support and Emotional Parallels
England's rugby community has rallied around their skipper, promising unwavering support during this difficult period. Itoje missed Saracens' Premiership clash against Newcastle last weekend to be with his family in Nigeria and was also absent from the official Six Nations launch event in Edinburgh.
Hooker Jamie George, a close friend and former England captain, stepped in to handle media duties and spoke movingly about the situation. George himself experienced the loss of his mother during the 2024 Six Nations tournament, creating what he described as "scary" parallels between their experiences.
A Message of Patience and Understanding
"We've spoken a lot," George revealed. "The parallels are scary, really. It's heartbreaking news. I know how much of a difficult time he's going through."
The experienced player emphasised the importance of allowing proper grieving time, stating: "My biggest message to him was to make sure he gives himself enough time to grieve and to process things. He's had a good opportunity to do that and is only going to come back when he's fully ready to give everything of himself to the squad."
Tournament Preparations Continue
England are proceeding with their preparations for the championship, travelling to Girona for a warm-weather training camp ahead of their opening match against Wales at Twickenham on February 7th. Head coach Steve Borthwick confirmed that Itoje will fly directly to Spain from Nigeria once he has completed the necessary family obligations.
Borthwick expressed confidence in his captain's resilience, noting: "When I have talked to him, I sense emotionally he has found it very tough. In Nigeria this week, it is an important step for him and everyone close to him. He's developed to be a really powerful captain. We look forward to having him back with us."
A Heartfelt Tribute on Social Media
Itoje shared the devastating news publicly through an emotional Instagram post, describing 2025 as both "one of the best years of my life" due to personal and professional achievements, and simultaneously "the most difficult year of my life" following his mother's passing in December.
In his tribute, the England captain wrote: "She was my confidant, gist partner, friend, advisor, teacher and my comfort. There is no part of my life where she has not positively impacted!"
He continued: "I thank God for her life and to be lucky enough to be called her son. She was the glue and heartbeat of our family and she leaves a hole that will never be filled."
Looking Forward to the Championship
The rugby community now waits to see when Itoje will rejoin the England setup, with teammates expressing determination to perform well in his honour during the upcoming Six Nations tournament. George summarised the squad's sentiment, saying: "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 proud. We're all determined to do that for him, too."
