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There was one word on Maro Itoje’s lips after he was unveiled as British and Irish Lions captain for the tour to Australia…selflessness.
Itoje was introduced to the crowd at London’s Dome where he joined tour head coach Andy Farrell and chairman Ieuan Evans.
Farrell revealed that he had spoked to Itoje’s Saracens coach Mark McCall to work out the best time to call, and that meant calling from Dublin airport and struggling with poor reception.
The message came through though and he is the 47th captain since the Lions’ first tour in 1885.
“INCREDIBLY UNIQUE EVENT”
"I will do my best to do the role justice. I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead, it’s going to be a great tour," he said at the official squad announcement.
“The Lions works when the players are selfless, so we all have to be selfless and put the Lions at the forefront of our minds.
“I want players to enjoy it. It is an incredibly unique event. You can’t imagine what might happen in four years’ time. You enjoy it by working hard, giving all of yourself, and being selfless.”
Australia 2025 is Itoje’s third tour. He started in five of the Lions previous six tests and came off the bench in the first test of the New Zealand 2017 tour.
“I want us to be tight,” he said. “That is a huge thing, a tight group of players that have each-others back and to play with energy and passion.
“When you get there, this is your new family and you can’t think from an English point of view, or a Wales point of view, you think of what the Lions want to do.”
FROM YOUNGSTER TO SKIPPER
As the youngest tourist in 2017 he had to look after the Lions’ mascot, BIL, who he will now carry out for the three tests.
It completes a phenomenal rise for someone whose initial sporting preference was basketball before an eagle-eyed teacher spotted his potential.
He has played in a World Cup final, been a European and English champion, and since the start of the year captained England
“He was young, and relatively inexperienced and full of excitement,” Itoje said when asked about his 2017 version.
“He would say go attack it, attack every training session. Get your hands on the ball, get into contact, and do your best.”