Six Nations: Maro Itoje of England absent from tournament opener following mother’s funeral

England’s captain Maro Itoje was absent from Monday’s Six Nations launch in Edinburgh as he was attending his mother’s funeral in Nigeria, but he is anticipated to rejoin the squad later this week.

Last week, Itoje shared on Instagram that his mother, Florence, had passed away in December.

In Itoje’s absence, England and Saracens hooker Jamie George attended the Six Nations launch and mentioned that he had been providing support to his teammate as much as possible.

George can relate to the difficulty of balancing rugby with personal loss, having experienced the death of his own mother during the Six Nations in 2024.

“We’ve had numerous conversations. The similarities are quite striking. It’s truly heartbreaking news. I understand the challenging time he is facing,” George, who succeeded Itoje as England captain, stated.

“My main message to him was to ensure he allows himself sufficient time to grieve and process everything. He has had a good opportunity to do so and will return only when he is fully prepared to give his all to the squad.

“He is currently in Nigeria but will return ready to contribute fully to the team and achieve success to make his family proud. We are all committed to doing that for him as well.”

As they await their captain’s return, England is intensifying preparations for the Six Nations, with the team traveling to Girona for a warm weather training camp ahead of their opening match against Wales at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on February 7.

George expressed satisfaction with the squad’s development in recent months but emphasized the need for continuous improvement to fulfill their championship aspirations.

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“We are in a favorable position, that much is clear. There is considerable confidence within the group and a lot of enjoyment in being in camp. This is a positive sign that we will perform well,” George remarked.

“We embrace the expectations as it reflects the progress we have made and what we have accomplished in a short time, but it also keeps us alert since we recognize that we cannot afford to be complacent or depend on past performances.

“We understand that if we remain the same team as we were over the last 11 matches, it will not suffice, so our focus in the upcoming two weeks is to improve as a team. We need to establish a new tone and standard, playing with renewed intensity and in a manner we can take pride in.”