Oghenemaro Miles Itoje, widely known as Maro Itoje, is making waves as the captain of England’s rugby team.
The Nigerian-British athlete recently led his team to a hard-fought 16-15 victory over Scotland in the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham on February 22, 2025, as part of the Six Nations tournament.
This triumph marked England’s first Calcutta Cup win since 2020 and their first home victory against Scotland since 2017.
At 30, Itoje has spent more than a decade competing at the highest level of rugby, earning a reputation as one of England’s finest players.
He has been nominated three times for the World Rugby Player of the Year award and boasts an impressive list of achievements, including five English Premiership titles, three European Rugby Champions Cup victories, and three Six Nations Championships.
In August 2024, he was appointed captain of Saracens following Owen Farrell’s departure.
His rise to prominence began in 2016 when he made his senior England debut during the Six Nations, becoming the youngest lock to start for the team in the tournament at that time.
That same year, he played a crucial role in England’s Grand Slam-winning campaign.
Born in Camden and raised in North London, Itoje grew up in a Nigerian-British household alongside his parents and two siblings, Jeremy and Isobel.
He attended Salcombe Preparatory School in Southgate before moving on to St. George’s School in Harpenden, where he was first introduced to rugby at the age of 11. A naturally gifted athlete, he also excelled in basketball, football, and athletics, representing England at the U17 level in shot put.
He later pursued a degree in politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London and, in 2023, earned an MBA from Warwick Business School.
Beyond his rugby career, Itoje is a passionate advocate for social change, actively speaking out on issues such as racism, equality, and education.
He has been a strong proponent of improved learning opportunities in the UK.
In 2023, he launched The Pearl Fund, an initiative dedicated to investing in education across Africa. His impact has been widely recognized, earning him a spot on the 2023 Powerlist of the most influential Black people in the UK.
He also received the Leadership Award at the 2022 Best of Africa Awards and was featured in Tatler’s Little Black Book that same year. Additionally, he co-founded the Akoje Gallery with Khalil Akar, a platform showcasing African and Caribbean artists.
On a personal note, Itoje is engaged to model Mimi Fall. He proposed during a trip to Nigeria and Ghana, and the couple announced their engagement in August 2024.
Mimi shared the exciting news on social media with a photo of them on a boat, captioned, “Mrs I to be,” along with a glimpse of her engagement ring.
With his leadership on and off the field, Maro Itoje continues to be a source of pride and inspiration, representing both his Nigerian heritage and British identity on the global stage.
