Maro Itoje: Trailblazing Captain of the British and Irish Lions

Maro Itoje has been appointed as captain of the British and Irish Lions for their tour of Australia, becoming the first Black captain and the third Englishman in history to lead the team. Previously a standout player in New Zealand and South Africa, Itoje is now embarking on his third tour.

Maro Itoje is set to lead the British and Irish Lions as their captain on the upcoming tour of Australia, as announced by head coach Andy Farrell on Thursday. At 30, the Saracens lock is making history as the first Black player to captain the Lions.

This marks Itoje's third tour with the Lions, having previously been the youngest player selected in 2017 for the New Zealand tour. His standout performances continued in South Africa in 2021. Earlier this year, he captained England to a second-place finish in the Six Nations Championship.

The Lions will face Argentina in Dublin on June 20, followed by five tour games in Australia before the first test match in Brisbane on July 19. The subsequent tests are scheduled for July 26 and August 2.

(With inputs from agencies.)