Jamie George: England hooker set for 100th Test cap talks his Lions tour and World Cup hopes

03/05/2025 07:57 AM

Jamie George is set to run out for a milestone Test match this Sunday, as his England side takes on Italy in the fourth round of the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations. The hooker is expected to make his 100th cap for his country when England battle the Azzurri, and George will become only the seventh man to make the historic century of appearances.

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George will join the exclusive group of players that currently includes; Ben Youngs, Dan Cole, Jason Leonard, Owen Farrell, Courtney Lawes and Danny Care. The Saracen spoke in the week about his delight at achieving the accolade, and how he is savouring every moment of the proceeding training week.

“I've always been the sort of bloke that doesn't try to lie to myself, or doesn't hide away from anything. It's a big week, for me and my family. I'm relishing all of it. I still remember from my first cap a bit of advice that Tom Youngs gave me to soak it all in as it'll go by like that [clicks].

“That genuinely feels like it was yesterday, so I'm hoping this week feels like it goes slow, as I want to really enjoy it and soak it all up. That's how I've done it best when I've had landmarks before.”

However George understands how that in a few short years, the sands of time may well start to catch up with the 34-year-old. The Saracen knows that the future is never certain, yet he wants to remain apart of the England set-up for as long as he possibly can. Throw into the mix a British & Irish Lions tour this Summer and the Rugby World Cup in 2027, and George has a couple more goals in mind before he hangs up his Test match boots.

“You reflect on more what's been than what's going forward. For me, I am going to be very focussed on the week and enjoying it and loving every second of it. What I love about milestones and what I have loved about my career a lot is I have been able to give opportunities to friends and family to travel around the world. Milestones are more for them than me right now, I feel thankful for the opportunity to do that for people.

"I want to play for England for as long as I can, the World Cup is definitely an ambition of mine and I would love to put my name in the hat for another Lions tour and hopefully my performances over the next couple of weeks will put my name in the conversation.”

It is on the World Cup stage, where George has his best memories of being apart of the England team, with the journey through the 2019 tournament in Japan being a firm favourite for him. England fell at the final hurdle back in Tokyo, as after beating New Zealand for a place in the final, South Africa sent Eddie Jones’ side packing with silver medals after a 32-12 defeat.

“My best experiences in an England shirt were at the 2019 World Cup, the whole journey of that. Being in Japan, it was different, it felt different, my family were able to go over there. The performance in the semi-final [vs All Blacks] was amazing in particular, but not being able to back it up the week after is something we'll regret for a long time. My whole experience over there was probably the most enjoyable I've had.”

It has been quite the Test career for George, since he made his debut for England in a 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up match. The hooker earned his first involvement on the Test match stage during a tune-up match against France, as he replaced Tom Youngs off the bench in the second half.

George was a late call-up to Stuart Lancaster’s side, having been fast-tracked into the squad following a suspension to Dylan Hartley. The former England captain was sent off for headbutting Jamie George when the two hookers clashed at club level, as a heated meeting between Saracens and Northampton triggered Hartley to receive a four-week ban for his actions.

With the altercation from a decade ago now thoroughly swept up under the rug, George turned back the clock to review his first few outings in an England shirt. The hooker expressed how he used to play with a more ‘reckless’ side, and how after years of experience George wants to stay in the conversation as one world’s best to wear the two jersey.

“When I reflect on my journey so far, it's not been straightforward. It's been challenging, difficult, frustrating, and I've not got opportunities when I felt I was ready to. At the same time I was behind John Smit and Schalk Brits at Saracens, and Dylan Hartley here (England) – they're good players, players I've learnt a huge amount from.

“What I learnt is that I can be tough, resilient, can make the most out of those situations. For me it was always about refining my core skills, controlling what I can control, being ready for the opportunities. A lot of that revolved around my fitness, my running capacity and my lineout throwing.

“I wanted to be the best lineout thrower in the world, the fittest hooker in the world, and I could control that in that period, so that was always going to stand me in good stead when I got that opportunity. That's the way I saw it. I can confidently say that I can look back and say I did capitalise on that period, and I'm a better player because of it.”

“I think you just mature. I was probably a little bit reckless when I first came into the international scene, because you want to make an impact. The development of my leadership has probably been the biggest addition to my game.”

Now that George is a battle tested veteran of the England squad, he has been looking to the future of the front row, to ensure the two jersey is in safe hands for when he decides to hang up the boots. George has long been a mentoring figure to his Saracens and England understudy Theo Dan, with the 24-year-old’s career trajectory following that of George’s early England run.

Much like how George had to bide his time behind Tom Youngs and Dylan Hartley, Theo Dan has been patiently waiting for his Saracens teammate and for Luke Cowan-Dickie to pass on the torch. Dan has made 21 England caps in his relatively early career, yet has only started in the 2023 Test matches against Fiji (RWC warm-up), Chile and Argentina (both 2023 RWC).

Cowan-Dickie’s return to England prominence has jutted Dan down the pecking order, and the young gun has since missed out on multiple match day squads. George has begun taking Dan’s seat on the bench throughout, the 2025 Six Nations and he understands how frustrating that must be for his club and country colleague. Despite this, George expects big things from the hooker, for Saracens, England and as a future British & Irish Lion.

"He's significantly more talented than I was! That's a fact. I'm blown away by how good he is. I think he's incredible. He's going to do incredible things for both Saracens and England, and hopefully the Lions. I try to mentor him a little bit, but he's also a friend.

“He's a great kid who wants to learn, he's tough and athletic. I can't speak highly enough of him, I know he's going to have a huge future. I can resonate with what he's going through at the minute, being sat in a position where he doesn't want to be. Those conversations are ongoing, I'm there to try and help him. I say to him openly, 'I'm your No 1 fan'. I think he's great. He's got a great future and I'm going to enjoy watching it."

George has been excelling in his newfound position from the replacements bench, in what was quite a brilliant move from Steve Borthwick to utilise the hooker’s leadership strengths. As a starter and England captain, George was withdrawn from the fray shortly after half-time, which caused leadership issues into the latter stages of the match. Such capitulation led to three last-ditch defeats to New Zealand across the Summer and Autumn, before Australia and South Africa picked up wins at the Allianz Stadium in November.

Whilst George is by no means content on missing out on the starting XV, the hooker understands his role and elevates the performance of his England teammates when he comes to the forefront. George exploded off the bench for a big impact against France and Scotland, as England ground out marginal victories in recent Six Nations matches. George is hopeful for more of the same this Sunday, as England welcome Italy to Twickenham.

“Yes, I am ambitious, I want to be the best I possibly can be, I want to start the game but I’m not going to throw my toys out the pram and not give everything of myself if I’m on the bench. I actually think it’s easier to make an impact and be seen coming off the bench because for me I’m the student of the game, I love watching the game, I love analysing the game.

“I’m watching things and seeing trends and you’re picking up messages, so you come off the bench and all you have to think about is adding. People are getting tired, whatever. I really enjoyed that start of my international career up until a certain period, obviously probably a couple too many. But I enjoyed it because of that period. That aspect of it, of looking at different ways that you specifically can add and sitting with the other front row boys and looking at scrums and seeing trends.

“I think it’s a good opportunity to be seen to be adding. Obviously a lot of my career has been from starting and I’ve tried to be able to add from the start also but whatever role I’m given I just want to make the most of it. Whatever time I’m given, I want to make the most of it and I think I learnt that from my early days of being behind Schalk Brits and getting three minutes here and four minutes there.”

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QUIZ: Can You Name EVERY Player in England’s 2016 Six Nations Grand Slam Squad?

England last won the Six Nations Grand Slam back in 2016, in what was Eddie Jones’ first Championship in charge. Taking over from Stuart Lancaster, Jones appointed a new captain to his side, in what was the start of a record equalising 18-test match winning streak.

Jones named a 33-man squad for the 2016 Six Nations, and we’ve laid out the challenge for you to name each and every one of the players. Due to the extra toughness of this one, we’ve given a slightly longer time limit for you to rattle off the answers.

Your time starts… now!

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