England captain Maro Itoje calls for best English players to return from France
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England captain Maro Itoje has issued a call to arms, for the best English players that are currently playing overseas. The skipper wants to have the best possible side under his leadership, with an array of top eligible talents plying their trade in the French Top 14.
10-capped England wing Henry Arundell made the headlines yesterday, with the former London Irish star set for a return to the Premiership next season. Arundell’s upcoming move from Racing 92 to Bath could be the start of a new wave of returning England stars, with Itoje hopeful that more of his former national teammates will follow suit. Speaking in England’s media session ahead of their upcoming Six Nations clash with France, Itoje said;
"We want all the best players to be available for selection for England. We want all the guys who are playing well playing for England, or at least being available for selection.
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"But everyone has their own individual careers and you have to make decisions which benefit you. I have a lot of respect for all the guys out there. I have played quite a lot of rugby and played quite a lot of rugby with them. I wish them all the best.
"All of that is a little bit hypothetical. Many of them could be in England but that doesn't mean they would get picked because there is a lot of competition in almost every position. Nothing is guaranteed whether they are here or there.”
Itoje would welcome the likes of his former captain and Saracens teammate Owen Farrell back with open arms, with the Racing 92 fly half officially approached by Leicester Tigers for a return to England. Other top talents that Borthwick can’t currently select include Stade Toulousain back row Jack Willis, La Rochelle wing Jack Nowell, the Montpellier duo of Sam Simmonds and Billy Vunipola, Toulon’s Lewis Ludlam, Kyle Sinckler and David Ribbans, Stade Francais midfielder Joe Marchant.
Itoje had the option to head to France, when Saracens were relegated from the Premiership, with the lock all but set for a move to the Top 14 having achieved all he could with Saracens. However, the 30-year-old decided against the move and extended his tenure as a StoneX stalwart,
"The reason I didn't pursue that is because I wanted to play for England. I felt like my time in an England shirt was not quite done yet. In my heart of hearts I would have been looking at England playing from across the Channel and I wouldn't have been at peace with the decision.
“There are a whole load of different factors one can use to determine whether you stay here or go there but, for me, I felt if I went it would have been a bit premature if I went at that time."
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