Saracens are hopeful of extending Maro Itoje's contract amid reported interest from Top 14 clubs, a move that could end the England captain's Test career. Talks are under way to extend Itoje's stay beyond its current expiry after next year's Rugby World Cup. However, the second row will be 33 by the end of the tournament and faces potentially his final chance to pursue longstanding interest from France.
Any move to France would put Itoje's Test career on hold, as the Rugby Football Union has a policy of not selecting overseas-based players. French newspaper Midi-Olympique claims European champions Bordeaux-Begles and Perpignan are among the clubs alerted to Itoje's potential availability. Saracens are optimistic of reaching a new agreement, but they are aware they are competing with Top 14 clubs that have more spending power. The French salary cap stands at 11m euros (£9.2m), well above the Premiership's equivalent figure of £6.4m, and the Top 14 also benefits from a more lucrative broadcast deal.
However, the English top flight allows one player at each club to sit outside the salary cap in a so-called marquee spot, which may give Saracens more freedom to compete with overseas offers. Staying in England would also make Itoje eligible for a central England contract, worth about £150,000 a year. A move to the Top 14 would remove international fixtures from his schedule, but French top-flight rugby is arduous, with 26 regular-season fixtures per club and post-season play-offs on top.
England's policy of only picking players from domestic rugby has come under pressure recently. Jack Willis, who represented England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, has enjoyed a stellar stint at Toulouse, winning the Top 14's player of the season award in each of the past two campaigns. The end of a World Cup cycle is often a convenient time for players to move abroad, and Itoje faces a decision that could define the next phase of his career.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing