NIGERIAN-born rugby star Maro Itoje has been named European Player of the Year after winning the sixth Nations Cup with his club Saracens which plays in the Aviva Premiership in England.
Born in Camden in London, Oghenemaro Miles Itoje, 21, has represented England at U18 level and captained the England U20 team in the 2013/14 season. He scored a try in every 2014 Under-20 Six Nations game and was England’s Man of the Tournament.
On January 21 2015, Itoje was called up to the England Saxons squad and made his debut in the game against Ireland Wolfhounds on January 30. He was then selected for the England 2015 Rugby World Cup training squad and received his first call-up to the senior England squad by new coach Eddie Jones on January 13 2016 for the 2016 Six Nations Championship.
According to Olatunji Fasimoye, the technical director of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Nigerians are naturally fit for rugby. He added that the country will soon be rated next to South Africa as one of the continent's great rugby teams if the game is given the needed attention.
Mr Fasimoye said: “There have been a large number of Nigerian-born eligible players who have for a variety of reasons, opted to play for other nations. We believe with the right funding, we will be able to have these players play for the Black Stallions in the nearest future.
Itoje added: "I feel I’m nowhere near where I think I can be and think there’s a lot to come. I am still young and there’s still a hell of a lot of things I need to work on.”
Last week, he was named the Rugby Players’ Association Young Player of the Year. He follows in the footsteps of previous English winners Nick Abendanon, Armitage and Jonny Wilkinson but insists his game remains work in progress.
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