Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
20 - 17
FT
20 - 52
FT
Tomorrow
15:10
Saturday
08:30
Saturday
10:10
Saturday
10:30
Saturday
10:30
Saturday
10:30
Saturday
10:30
Saturday
12:40
Saturday
15:05
Saturday
15:10
Sunday
08:40
Sunday
10:00
Sunday
11:10
Sunday
15:05
Gallagher PremiershipSaracens

Seven-figure Maro Itoje loan deal sparks row - report

Maro Itoje (Getty Images)

Maro Itoje could be set to be lured to France in a controversial deal that could see the lock forward still play for England - report The Guardian.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to the report, Itoje has been offered a seven-figure deal to join Top 14 giants Racing 92 on a loan deal while Saracens spend a year in the RFU Championship. Itoje is already one of the highest-paid rugby players in the world, but this loan deal could be set to earn the 25-year-old yet more again.

Eddie Jones' and the RFU are thought to be amenable to the deal and were prepared to let Itoje continue play for England. A move to Racing would allow Itoje - an undisputed star of the English game - to continue to play at a high-level, priming him for Test duty and next season's Lions tour to South Africa.

However, Robert Kitson writes that the move is being resisted by rival Premiership club owners, who don't believe the Saracens player should be given the benefit of an 'exceptional' circumstance clause.

Should the deal goes ahead, it will be one of a growing number of loan-deals that Saracens have struck with rival clubs. Ben Earl, Max Malins and Jack Singleton have agreed loan deals that would see them return to North London for the 2021/22 season.

Itoje is one of Saracens' most prized assets and the club are desperate not to lose him.

He was named European Player of the Year and Rugby Players Association Young Player of the Year in 2016 after being part of England’s Grand Slam-winning side as well as helping Saracens win the Premiership and European Champions Cup titles.

He was ranked in the top 10 performers for turnovers won (15) and lineout steals (6) during the 2018-19 Premiership season.

ADVERTISEMENT

Concerns have been raised over his discipline however. He amassed four sin-bins in Saracens’ 2018-19 season, two of which came in the Premiership and European Champions Cup finals. By June, 2019, he had conceded 32 penalties in 24 Premiership, European Champions Cup and International matches for Saracens and England.

WATCH: Leon MacDonald joins the Breakdown to give an inside look at the Blues camp in 2020. This and all the big rugby news on your latest episode of the Breakdown.

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

1

David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

2

Let's be real about these All Blacks

3

Why World Cup winner doesn’t blame All Black for leaving New Zealand

4

Tyrone Green decision has huge bearing on his international future

5

Five legends to be inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame

6

The appointment I would make to save Steve Borthwick – Andy Goode

7

Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

8

The 'too small, physically out of his depth' Sam Prendergast verdict

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

LONG READ

Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The Irishman's abrupt departure left his players reeling and confused about their new rearguard action.

LONG READ

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

The England head coach shoulders some responsibility for his side's disappointing autumn results.

LONG READ

Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat

Signs of progress for Scott Robertson and a resurgent Australia are reasons for optimism for an All Blacks collective

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 1 minute ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Possibly. But this welsh team is no better than a good URC team at this point.


But a tough match is what is needed for the inexperienced in the group. Building depth etc.


Nobody learns anything pumping a team by 50.

3 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 5 minutes ago
Rob Howley: Warren Gatland is 'the best coach in the world'

Jeepers. That’s a nuclear response given the context.


By all means back the man. But there’s no need to go overboard with calling him the world best coach.

1 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 8 minutes ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

He played a big role, as director of rugby prior to stepping in as coach, putting systems in place. He’s been involved in many of these players careers since they were teens or debutants at their provincial teams.


So I agree with you 100% it’s not Gatlands fault the pipeline of players is poor.

20 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 11 minutes ago
Johan Ackermann returns to SA in new coaching role

Rassie is going to coach the boks until he’s 65. Never get tired of this.

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 12 minutes ago
The Springboks confirm one change made to team named on Tuesday

It could be about the cut. It doesn’t seem wise to risk a reinjury.


Also an opportunity to give others a run.

6 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 14 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

It a hypothesis sure, perhaps Felix has a sweet deal lined up somewhere else. But I also don’t think he’d say something about that environment if it wasn’t true. He doesn’t strike me as a douche.

13 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 16 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

Just a hypothesis. What on earth else could be the issue with regards to the environment as claimed by Felix?

13 Go to comments
J
JM 21 minutes ago
'Lightweight' Premiership not preparing England players for Test rugby

You start off talking about physicality and then quickly segue to intensity as if they're the same thing.

If you think the Premiership isn't physical then you're either a fool, or being disingenuous.

One of the issues the Premiership does have when it comes to intensity is that the bonus point structure makes the last 20 minutes of lots of games meaningless. Everyone's wrapped up their points, benches are cleared, the quality of the game deteriorates, and what could be tense conclusions end up just petering out.

12 Go to comments
T
Tom 30 minutes ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

Willis is incredible and probably the best of the bunch but in Underhill and Earl we have two excellent alternatives.


Willis is solid in the lineout but I don't think Borthwick would pick a backrow without a 6'5" blindside.

4 Go to comments
T
Toaster 33 minutes ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

As an ABs fan there’s nothing to justify

The Boks are the best and just know how to win

And their depth is incredible now

And when they don’t they lose late on by one point


The rest of us aren’t too far away (some closer than others)


But in reality if we include England Argentina and now Aus rugby looks greatly competitive


Bongis knock on and Lomaxes double bank

These things happen


The fact is the ABs overall have evolved with new players and others like Aumua Vaai and Williams who have progressed immensely


But by and large although it has improved overall our second halves are a massive work in progress


So a B- is about right provided there is no loss to Italy

A loss drops it to C- !!

Remember we could have lost all three games to England but were just slightly better that’s all

29 Go to comments
f
fl 34 minutes ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

Willis is decent in the lineout to be fair, but definitely lacking a heavyweight ball carrier.


I think between Underhill, Curry, and Willis there isn't a huge amount between them. Maybe Willis would be good enough to start, but he wouldn't massively improve the team.

4 Go to comments
T
Tom 36 minutes ago
'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall'

I'm not sure he is getting there and I don't think he will. Progress has been glacial honestly. Our attacking structure hasn't improved at all, except that he's now picking Marcus Smith who is a one man attack at the moment... And our defence for obvious reasons is now awful. I would have faith in Borthwick if I had faith in his assistant coaches... But I don't think Wigglesworth is an attack coach and why would he be? He's never been an attack coach and he spent his entire career box kicking. Our defence coach has never been employed as a defence coach and is still the head coach of a second division French side with an awful defensive record. The fact that Borthwick appointed them both is a poor reflection. If we still had Felix Jones and we had Mike Catt/Nick Evans or someone in the attack coach role, I'd be content to be patient and that results will come. With Wigglesworth and Joe El Abd, I have no faith that we will improve and I've seen no signs that we are.

16 Go to comments
E
EV 45 minutes ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

You miss the point. There is no pipeline of players. A coach cannot change that. That is up to the Welsh RFU, which have failed.


Rassie is a clever bugger, no doubt, but the Boks could play 52 players this year because of the systems they have put in place to find and develop players from schoolboy level up.

20 Go to comments
E
EV 47 minutes ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Rassie is ruling the roost because he put systems in place to find and develop the best players from schoolboy level up. Its an entire system and organisation that now, several years down the line, presents him with a pipeline of battle ready talent.


Wales lacks this, lacks a Director of Rugby. Firing Gatland won't change this fact. He is an world class coach. If anything Abi Tierney should be shipped out for failing to put these systems in place over the last 11 months.

20 Go to comments
T
Tom 48 minutes ago
'I don't think Steve Borthwick would pick Jack Willis even if he's playing in England'

In terms of player quality, that is a phenomenal backrow. In terms of balance, not so much. Lacks a heavyweight ball carrier and a lineout option. I'm sure they'd still cause havoc though.

4 Go to comments
S
SC 53 minutes ago
New Zealand can't keep losing first fives like Harry Plummer

Is Harry Plummer a better 10 than Barrett or McKenzie? I do not think he is close to their level. Clearly, neither does Robertson.


Therefore Plummer does not deserve to start or be on the bench for an All Black Test if he is not one of the top two in his position. The third best player at a position should only be selected if one of the top two are injured.


This applies to all players at all positions.


The All Black XV team is for player development. The All Blacks should not be.

6 Go to comments
T
Tk 55 minutes ago
Five changes for the All Blacks, including the return of Sam Cane

Worst selection of the year. Farewells for Sam and TJ- but they are not retiring greats, they have chosen to leave NZ rugby for pay days. Havili, just why? Lakai had a great 78 mins last week now dropped for a retirement party. Reuben Love anyone, you know, a player who will be around come RWC'27!

11 Go to comments
S
SC 1 hour ago
Five changes for the All Blacks, including the return of Sam Cane

Italy beat both Wales and Scotland and tied France in this year's Six Nations.

11 Go to comments
S
SC 1 hour ago
Tupou Vaa'i gives first impression of 'big unit' Fabian Holland

Fantastic to have a fourth lock over 2m and even better that he is over 120kg like Holland.

8 Go to comments
D
DrinkAwayTheConcussion 1 hour ago
'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

I was pretty disappointed when he did that ref video during the lions series, other than that he’s mostly looked more like someone’s Dad coaching the U8s more than a drill sergeant authority type.

9 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING World Cup-winning halfback on Cam Roigard’s substitution in France loss World Cup-winning halfback on Cam Roigard’s substitution vs. France
Search