Lions captaincy 'a tremendous honour' for Itoje

England's Maro Itoje will captain the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia after being appointed by coach Andy Farrell on May 8.

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LONDON - England's Maro Itoje will captain the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia after being appointed by coach Andy Farrell on May 8.

The 30-year-old Saracens lock becomes the first black player to captain the touring side.

"It's hard to articulate," said Itoje after taking the stage at London's O2 Arena for a squad announcement where fans were present for the first time.

"It's a tremendous honour, it's a tremendous privilege. You think about the people who have held this position before and it's remarkable.

"It's an honour and I will do my very best to make sure I can contribute to a successful tour."

One of the few sure Test starters, Itoje will be embarking on his third Lions tour after being selected as the youngest player in New Zealand in 2017 and playing a standout role in South Africa in 2021.

Appointed England captain in place of Jamie George in January, Itoje led them to second place in the 2025 Six Nations Championship with four wins in a row.