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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Robert Kitson

England captain Maro Itoje absent from training camp to attend mother’s funeral in Nigeria

Maro Itoje Steve Borthwick England Nigeria Jamie George Six Nations
The England head coach Steve Borthwick embraces Maro Itoje after their side's victory during the 2025 Nations Series against New Zealand last November
Steve Borthwick said Maro Itoje, the England captain, has found bereavement very tough. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

England will kick off their Six Nations training camp in Spain this week without their captain, Maro Itoje, who has travelled to Nigeria for his mother’s funeral. Itoje was absent from the official Six Nations championship launch in Edinburgh on Monday and is not expected to join his squad until Wednesday evening.

With the tournament commencing on Thursday week every team is scrambling to be ready, but the Saracens lock has been given permission to miss the start of the training block in Girona this week.

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