England rugby captain Maro Itoje was initially taken aback when head coach Steve Borthwick suggested he take a summer break from the sport. Itoje, 31, spent the summer in Mauritius and Nigeria, marking his first real break from professional rugby in over ten years. He missed England's matches against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina in July, a decision he now says was necessary for his well-being. Itoje had just led England through the Six Nations tournament, which yielded only one win, and the period was compounded by the recent loss of his mother. Reflecting on the break, he said it was the best decision for him, both personally and professionally. Itoje, who made his England debut in 2016, has earned 102 caps and has toured three times with the British and Irish Lions. He played over 30 matches in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, surpassing the recommended limit of 2,400 match minutes in the former and narrowly avoiding it in the latter. While he felt physically in good condition, he acknowledged that the mental toll of the past year had been significant. He emphasized that mental recovery was more crucial than physical rest, noting that it had been a heavy year both personally and professionally. Itoje briefly reconnected with the England squad at Heathrow Airport as they returned from a defeat to South Africa, coinciding with his return from Nigeria. He sent the squad occasional good luck messages but chose not to watch their games live, finding it difficult to fully disconnect. He watched matches later, aiming to remove emotional involvement from the experience. The purpose of his break, he said, was to return to a balanced state of mind. Looking ahead, Itoje faces a busy period, with Saracens' Premiership season kicking off on 27 September and England's upcoming matches against Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and a final's weekend play-off opponent in November. The Rugby World Cup in Australia is scheduled for next year. Meanwhile, Itoje and his wife, Mimi, are expecting their first child, a boy, soon. He expressed excitement about fatherhood and said he hopes for at least three children, though he has no upper limit in mind.