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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Duncan Bech

‘Playing for England is the Mecca’, says Maro Itoje amid breakaway league plans

Mark Itoje says playing for England is his ‘Mecca’ (Gareth Fuller/PA) - (PA Archive)

Maro Itoje believes that England’s players would reject the opportunity to play in the global breakaway league that is threatening to upend the rugby landscape.

Itoje describes representing his country as the “Mecca” in response to plans to launch a new competition featuring over 200 of the game’s top stars in 2026.

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