Maro Itoje's comeback is on pause until after the holiday cheers have settled. The Saracens powerhouse won't grace the rugby field until the new year, thanks to a lingering knee injury picked up during the autumn clashes. Initially hoped to return before 2025 closed out, Itoje's timeline has stretched, courtesy of a cautious recovery strategy from his club.
The injury occurred while Itoje was on duty with England, who triumphed over Argentina in late November. This setback has shifted his expected re-entry to the game, now potentially marking the calendar for an early January appearance. "Maro is still carrying an injury from the autumn so we don’t expect to see him for a while. The time scale is a little bit vague at the moment," explained Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall.
"He’s got a chance of being back for the Leicester Tigers game which is the first week of January maybe. Somewhere around then."
The delay is partly due to the intense year Itoje has had, including leading the British and Irish Lions on their tour down under. This extra duty not only added to his injury risks but also delayed his start in the Premiership, missing the first three games for Saracens. His next possible playdate? The clash against Leicester Tigers on January 4 or the following week in the Investec Champions Cup bout against Toulouse.
While Itoje’s absence is a punch to the gut, Saracens aren’t left totally in the lurch. They’ve got good news as England hooker Jamie George sprints back to the lineup after shaking off a hamstring injury from a tussle with New Zealand last month. "He’s worked really hard to get back and it’s going to be good to have him available again," McCall noted with relief.
In more uplifting news for Saracens, Theo Dan dodged a suspension hammer after a citing for a dangerous tackle was dismissed by an independent disciplinary committee. Though found guilty of foul play, it wasn’t severe enough to warrant a red card. "It was what we expected but we are happy that he’s available," McCall concluded, clearly pleased with the outcome.
With these shifts and shuffles in the roster, Saracens gear up for their upcoming Premiership showdown against Exeter Chiefs, with spirits high and hopes of keeping their winning momentum intact.
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Maro Itoje's comeback is on pause until after the holiday cheers have settled. The Saracens powerhouse won't grace the rugby field until the new year, thanks to a lingering knee injury picked up during the autumn clashes. Initially hoped to return before 2025 closed out, Itoje's timeline has stretched, courtesy of a cautious recovery strategy from his club.
The injury occurred while Itoje was on duty with England, who triumphed over Argentina in late November. This setback has shifted his expected re-entry to the game, now potentially marking the calendar for an early January appearance. "Maro is still carrying an injury from the autumn so we don’t expect to see him for a while. The time scale is a little bit vague at the moment," explained Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall.
"He’s got a chance of being back for the Leicester Tigers game which is the first week of January maybe. Somewhere around then."
The delay is partly due to the intense year Itoje has had, including leading the British and Irish Lions on their tour down under. This extra duty not only added to his injury risks but also delayed his start in the Premiership, missing the first three games for Saracens. His next possible playdate? The clash against Leicester Tigers on January 4 or the following week in the Investec Champions Cup bout against Toulouse.
While Itoje’s absence is a punch to the gut, Saracens aren’t left totally in the lurch. They’ve got good news as England hooker Jamie George sprints back to the lineup after shaking off a hamstring injury from a tussle with New Zealand last month. "He’s worked really hard to get back and it’s going to be good to have him available again," McCall noted with relief.
In more uplifting news for Saracens, Theo Dan dodged a suspension hammer after a citing for a dangerous tackle was dismissed by an independent disciplinary committee. Though found guilty of foul play, it wasn’t severe enough to warrant a red card. "It was what we expected but we are happy that he’s available," McCall concluded, clearly pleased with the outcome.
With these shifts and shuffles in the roster, Saracens gear up for their upcoming Premiership showdown against Exeter Chiefs, with spirits high and hopes of keeping their winning momentum intact.