England captain Maro Itoje expressed his initial shock when head coach Steve Borthwick suggested he take the summer off from international duties. This decision came after Itoje missed England's matches against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina in July, opting for a much-needed break in Mauritius and Nigeria—his first proper summer off from professional rugby in over a decade.

The 31-year-old, who faced personal challenges with the recent passing of his mother, shared insights on the benefits of this time away. He stated, "I spoke to Steve Borthwick two weeks after the Six Nations and at the end of a long conversation he mentioned we would have to think about what to do in the summer. I was taken aback a bit - it wasn't something that was in my mind."

Traditionally, players go on tour at the end of the season, but Itoje reflected on the decision positively, noting, "The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was the best thing for me... it was a wise and prudent decision, it has given me the best opportunity to perform well over the next period of time."

Since his debut in 2016, Itoje has earned 102 caps and toured three times with the British and Irish Lions. He acknowledged the demanding nature of the past year, playing over 30 matches in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, which exceeded the recommended limit of 2,400 match minutes.

In his own words, "I would argue that the mental recovery was far more significant than physically... it was nice to have just a bit of time to take a breath." This summer break appears to have positioned him well for future performances.