Speaking to\u00a0The Times\u00a0in July 2025<\/a>, Itoje revealed he already has a clear retirement plan.<\/p>\nThe England captain intends to retire at the age of 35, bringing the curtain down on his career in 2029.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I\u2019m 35. That\u2019s a healthy age to retire. It\u2019s a good age to throw yourself at a new challenge and it gives me a good four years to really dip into the rugby.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to leave rugby when I\u2019m clinging on. I want to go out on my terms, while I\u2019m fit.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a typically measured approach from a player who has built his career on setting the highest standards both on and off the pitch.<\/p>\n
Summer break after heavy workload<\/p>\n
Rather than leading England this July, Itoje will spend the summer recovering after an intense run of rugby.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old has been rested by Steve Borthwick after captaining England through the Six Nations and featuring heavily for Saracens, with the RFU keen to carefully manage his minutes ahead of a crucial 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n
His absence leaves England without their skipper for this month\u2019s Nations Championship fixtures against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina, while also giving several younger second rows the opportunity to impress.<\/p>\n
One final World Cup mission<\/p>\n
If everything goes to plan, Itoje will return refreshed and lead England into the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which he believes will be the final World Cup of his career.<\/p>\n
For a player who burst onto the international scene as a 21-year-old sensation and has become one of England\u2019s defining players, the countdown to 2029 has already begun.<\/p>\n
EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n
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