England rugby captain Maro Itoje recently took a brief sabbatical from international duties, stepping away during the summer Tests to focus on rest and recovery ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The decision, encouraged by England head coach Steve Borthwick, allowed Itoje to take time off while England toured South Africa, Liverpool, and Argentina.

Itoje, who has played more Test minutes than any other England player over the past decade, spent his break in Nigeria and Mauritius. He chose not to watch the matches live, including England’s loss to South Africa and victories over Fiji and Argentina, to avoid becoming too emotionally involved during his downtime. “I kept in touch, wishing the boys luck,” he said, “but I didn’t want to be too much in their grill.”

The 31-year-old lock admitted that stepping back from the action was challenging but necessary. Since his debut in 2016, Itoje has participated in nearly every major campaign for England and has often played extended club seasons with Saracens, reaching late stages in European and Premiership competitions. This intense schedule has meant few real breaks, often limited to short rest periods or forced time off due to injury.

Itoje acknowledged the value of the sabbatical in allowing him to rest physically while maintaining full health. He has since returned to Saracens for his first full club pre-season preparation since 2014, describing it as a beneficial return. Reflecting on the benefits of such breaks, Itoje encouraged other players to consider taking time away from the continuous demands of professional rugby.

His approach aligns with practices in other rugby nations, such as New Zealand, where Test players are periodically granted breaks from international play or allowed to participate in domestic competitions abroad, including lucrative stints in Japan.

Borthwick’s decision to grant Itoje this period of rest shortly after the Six Nations marks a notable shift in managing player workload, with the aim of prolonging careers and optimizing performance ahead of major tournaments.