Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Maro Itoje ends his association with Roc Nation Sports

Maro Itoje on Saracens duty in December (Photo by Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)

British and Irish Lions hopeful Maro Itoje has ended his four-year association with Roc Nation Sports, switching to Ten Toes. The England lock generated headlines in late 2020 with his decision to exit Stellar Group and hook up with musician Jay-Z’s sports management company.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, having agreed a deal in January 2024 to stay on long-term at Saracens as well as securing an enhanced England EPS deal, the 30-year-old has now changed agency just months out from the 2025 Lions tour to Australia that he is hoping to be selected for.

A statement read: “Ten Toes is pleased to welcome Saracens and England rugby union star, philanthropist and gallerist Maro Itoje to its talent roster. Responsible for building Itoje’s personal brand off the pitch, Ten Toes will begin by building the strategic foundations of success before leading all content and exclusive commercial partnership delivery.

Video Spacer

5 of the Best Ilona Maher SVNS series tries | RPTV

Bristol’s star signing and Olympic bronze medalist has scored some spectacular tries for the USA Women’s 7s team. Watch the entire SVNS series this year on RugbyPass TV.

Watch SVNS

Video Spacer

5 of the Best Ilona Maher SVNS series tries | RPTV

Bristol’s star signing and Olympic bronze medalist has scored some spectacular tries for the USA Women’s 7s team. Watch the entire SVNS series this year on RugbyPass TV.

Watch SVNS

“Itoje’s rise to the top of the rugby world is one that is well documented, collecting several accolades at both an international and club level for Saracens, with over 200 appearances combined. Known for his intelligent decision making and defensive attributes on the pitch, Itoje has won the hearts and minds of fans outside of rugby.

“Itoje, through the founding of the Akoje Gallery, champions the work of talented artists, with a focus on those from Africa, the Caribbean, and the diaspora. Alongside Khalil Akar, he also created the Akoje Residency, a non-profit charity creating pathways for artists to grow, while fostering cross-cultural engagement, collaboration, and creativity.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ten Toes (@tentoes)

“Additionally, Itoje launched the Pearl Fund, an initiative generating multi-million-pound investments to support the education of children in Nigeria, demonstrating his dedication to both cultural and educational advancement.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Ben Weisfeld, Ten Toes’ founder and CEO, said: “We couldn’t be more excited. Maro is more than just a rugby player. He has so many strings to his bow, and we can’t wait to build on the foundations he has already built and continue to grow his profile with fans and new partners alike.”

Itoje added: “I’m very excited to partner with Ten Toes on this next chapter. Ben and the team’s work has been very impressive and I like the way they go about their business. I’m looking forward to working alongside them to help achieve my goals and aspirations.”

Fixture
Investec Champions Cup
Munster
17 - 12
Full-time
Saracens
All Stats and Data

Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now 

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

2 Comments
N
NE 4 days ago

Certainly one of the top 3 second row players around and would also make a World XV on the side of the scrum as well. Tops player. Salute.

B
Bull Shark 5 days ago

I remember getting around Durbs with ND Ten Toes.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 5 hours ago
Six former All Blacks eligible for new nations in 2025

He wasn't, he was only there a couple of years. Don't get me wrong, he's a player of promise, but without ever having a season at 10 at that level, one could hardly ever think he would be in line to take over.


But if you really want to look at your question deeper, we get to that much fabled "production line" of the Crusaders. I predict you'll know what I mean when I say, Waikato, Waikato, Queensland.


I don't know everything about him (or his area I mean) but sure, it wouldnt have just been Razor that invested in him, and that's not to say he's the only 10 to have come out of that academy in the last half dozen years/decade since Mo'unga, but he is probably the best. So it's a matter of there having been no one else why it was so easy for people to picture him being razors heir apparent (no doubt he holds him in more high regard than the blurb/reference of his recently published though). And in general there is very much a no paching policy at that level which you may not appreciate .


For England? Really? That's interesting. I had just assumed he was viewed as club man and that national aspect was just used to entice him over. I mean he could stil be used by Scotland given I wouldn't expect them to have a whole lot of depth even thoe fh's one of their strongest positions at the moment. But certainly not England.


Personally I still think that far more likely was the reason. He would/could have done the same for Crusaders and NZ, just without half as much in his pocket. And as an individual I certainly don't think he'd have chosen England over the All Blacks (as a tru blue kiwi i mean), and he of all people should know where he sits. He said he wants to play internationally, so I take that at face value, he didn't think that could be for NZ, and he might have underestimated (or been mislead by McCall) England (and Scotland really), or have already chosen Scotland at the time, as seems the case from talk of his addition.


Again though, he's a player who I'd happily rate outside the trifecta of Barrett/McKenzie/Mo'unga in basic ability , even on par with foreign players like Plummer, Sopoaga, Ioane, and ahead of a bunch in his era like Falcon, Trask, Reihana. I've done the same thing >.< excluding Perofeta from the 10 debate. Hes probably below him but I think pero is a 15 now.

31 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Scotland's Adam Hastings handed driving ban Scotland's Adam Hastings handed driving ban
Search