January 31, 2024, 09:38 GMT
Updated 32 minutes ago
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Maro Itoje scored two tries in his last appearance for Saracens – a 39-24 Champions Cup win over Lyon
England-suspended Maro Itoje has signed a new “long-term” contract with Saracens.
The five-time Premiership winner has made 175 appearances for the club since making his debut in 2013.
The 29-year-old Itoje has won three European Cup titles at the StoneX Stadium and was also named European Player of the Year in 2016.
Second row Itoje has been selected by England for this year's Six Nations, the opening match of which is against Italy in Rome on Saturday.
The Saracens academy graduate has won 76 caps, winning the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2016 and playing in the 2019 World Cup final defeat to South Africa.
He was also part of the England team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in France last year, losing again to the Springboks.
In an outstanding club career, Itoje won the Premiership four times in five years between 2015 and 2019, as well as the European Cup in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2018-19.
He chose to stay at the club until relegation in 2020 after Saracens were found guilty of breaching salary cap rules, winning the championship and gaining promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.
“A world-class player” – McCall
“Saracens is my home and I couldn’t be happier to stay here,” said Itoje upon signing his new contract.
“Looking back, I am very proud of what we have achieved over the last ten years and it is the best place for me to develop further.”
“With the squad we have, I really believe we have some extremely exciting times ahead and I can’t wait to be a part of it in the future.”
The north London club are fourth in the Premiership with 36 points, one point behind second-placed Harlequins.
They will face Bordeaux Begles in the round of 16 of the Champions Cup.
Mark McCall, Saracens' director of rugby, said: “Maro has developed from a promising young talent into a global rugby great.”
“He is a world-class player, but what sets Maro apart is his commitment to his craft; the standard he sets, how he carries out his work on and off the pitch and how this expresses his love for the club and the game.” .
“We know the best of Maro is yet to come.”
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