Maro Itoje: England lock signs new 'long-term' Saracens contract

Maro Itoje scored two tries in his most recent Saracens appearance - a 39-24 Champions Cup victory over Lyon

England lock Maro Itoje has signed a new "long-term" contract with Saracens.

The five-time Premiership winner has made 175 appearances for the club after making his debut in 2013.

Itoje, 29, has won three European Champions Cup titles at StoneX Stadium, and was also named European Player of the Year back in 2016.

The news comes after England captain Owen Farrell agreed a deal to leave Saracens for French side Racing 92 earlier this month.

Farrell had announced he was taking an international sabbatical prior to the move, while Rugby Football Union rules stop players based abroad being selected by England.

Jack Willis, Henry Arundell and Joe Marchant are among the England internationals currently playing in France, and therefore not able to play for their country.

Second row Itoje has been called up for this year's Six Nations, with their opening game against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

The Saracens academy graduate has 76 international caps and won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2016, as well as playing in the 2019 World Cup final defeat by South Africa.

He was also part of the England team to reach the semi-finals of last year's World Cup in France, again losing to the Springboks.

In a stellar club career, Itoje won the Premiership four times in five years between 2015 and 2019 and then again last season, as well as the European Champions Cup in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2018-19.

He opted to stay with the club through relegation in 2020, after Saracens had been found guilty of breaching salary cap rules, winning the Championship and promotion back to the top flight at the first time of asking.

'A world-class player' - McCall

"Saracens is my home and I couldn't be happier to be staying here," Itoje said on signing his new contract.

"Looking back I am very proud of what we have achieved over the last 10 years and it is the best place for me to keep progressing.

"With the squad we have I really believe we have some massively exciting times ahead and I can't wait to be a part of it moving forward."

The north London club are fourth in the Premiership on 36 points, one point behind second-placed Harlequins.

They face Bordeaux Begles in the last 16 of the Champions Cup.

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said: "Maro has gone from a promising academy prospect to a global figure in rugby.

"He is a world-class player, but what sets Maro apart is his dedication to his craft; the standard he sets, how he goes about his work on and off the field and how this expresses his love for the club and for the game.

"We know the best of Maro is yet to come."

Analysis

BBC Radio London's lead rugby commentator Andy Rowley

After all the success of the last 10 years, this says there's the desire and hunger at the club to go on and create another great team.

Maro Itoje is now going to play the majority of his career at the club and I remember commentating on games when he was coming through the academy - the first-team players said 'this guy is going to be amazing, he's going to captain the club and potentially go on to win 100 caps for his country', and he hadn't even played in the Premiership yet.

He has been part of a side that's won a lot of titles and now Saracens are going to make him central to building another team, with the next generation of players.