Maro Itoje agrees terms on new Saracens deal, preserving England eligibility

England captain Maro Itoje has agreed terms on a new deal with Saracens, the Guardian reported on 21 October, after interest from French clubs raised questions about his Test future. Staying with the English club would keep him eligible for national selection under the Rugby Football Union’s policy on overseas-based players.

Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter said Itoje had reached an agreement with the club’s owner. ‘He is staying,’ Venter told the Guardian. The report said the deal was believed to run until 2029; its precise term and formal signing have not been confirmed.

Why staying at Saracens matters for England

The RFU does not select overseas-based players, BBC Sport reported. A move to France would therefore have put Itoje’s England career on hold under that policy. Remaining in England also leaves him eligible for a central England contract, worth about £150,000 a year, the BBC said.

The Guardian reported that moves to Perpignan or Bordeaux had been mooted. BBC Sport also reported French interest, attributing the identification of Bordeaux-Bègles and Perpignan to French newspaper Midi Olympique. Neither report established that either club had made Itoje a formal offer.

Itoje’s workload and Saracens history

Itoje has won 102 England caps since his 2016 debut. He was rested for England’s summer Tests against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina after a sustained heavy workload, according to both reports. The BBC said the rest was arranged between club and country; the Guardian reported that Itoje had shown signs of fatigue.

Itoje has been with Saracens since his teenage years and remained at the club through its season in the second-tier Championship following a salary-cap punishment, BBC Sport reported. Venter described him as ‘a brilliant leader’ and ‘such a good rugby player’ as Saracens prepared to keep a player central to both the club and England.