England lock Maro Itoje requires World Rugby to slim hole between first and second tier nations, as Steve Borthwick’s aspect put together for World Cup free hit in opposition to Samoa

England lock Maro Itoje claims he would like to play a Take a look at match in Samoa and has urged World Rugby to slim the hole between first and second tier nations.

Itoje has solely performed in opposition to Samoa as soon as, at Twickenham in 2017, and England haven’t been on tour to the Pacific Islands.

The Nations Championship will likely be launched in 2026, doubtlessly locking out the likes of Samoa and Chile from an annual competitors dominated by the elite nations.

It may very well be a pivotal second for the way forward for rugby and Itoje believes discovering the correct structural stability is vital.

‘I’d love for us to have a dialog the place there’s no such factor as tier two, or the place tier two begins from international locations ranked 20 and underneath,’ stated Itoje.

Maro Itoje has referred to as for World Rugby to slim hole between first and second tier nations

The England lock steered it may very well be ‘good’ for the sport if tiers had been eliminated completely

‘That might be a superb evolution of the sport. I used to be talking to among the Chileans after the final sport, they usually had been saying that after they got here right here it was one of many first instances that they had performed on comfortable grass.

‘They stated it was good to do contact in France as a result of the grass was comfortable and it was inexperienced. Again in Chile it’s all powerful and all exhausting.

‘So all this stuff are structural points that if we will get on prime of, it could be good to see extra nations like Chile attain the extent of Argentina or past, or Portugal attain the extent of groups within the Six Nations.’

He added: ‘We’ve seen the final stage of play of supposed tier two nations undergo the roof on this World Cup. We’re beginning to see the strains blur between tier one and tier two, which is good.

‘I assume the worldwide problem is how they are often throughout non-Rugby World Cup instances.

‘It’s a problem for World Rugby to verify they’ve the help that they’ll try this on a constant foundation, all through the years and in between these World Cup campaigns.’

England have a free hit in opposition to Samoa subsequent week, having already booked their place within the quarter-finals with a match to spare.

It may very well be the primary time that centre Manu Tuilagi performs in opposition to his ancestral nation, forward of a probable quarter-final in opposition to Fiji in Marseille.

Itoje stated that Chile gamers instructed him that they had by no means performed on comfortable grass earlier than the World Cup

England face Samoa of their closing pool sport having already certified for the quarter finals

Requested if he would help a tour to the Pacific Islands, Itoje stated: ‘Yeah, why not, if we will do it. On a egocentric perspective, rugby has given me the chance to go all around the globe, to locations I most likely wouldn’t have gone to in any other case. If that’s doable then down the road, why not, that will be wonderful.’

For Itoje, subsequent week’s closing pool sport in Lyon will likely be an opportunity for him to lock horns together with his Saracens team-mate Theo MacFarland.

A former worldwide basketballer, MacFarland was the Premiership’s standout participant in 2022 earlier than being sidelined with a long-term harm.

‘Theo has nice athletic presents,’ stated Itoje. ‘He used to play basketball, so the best way he palms the ball, the best way he controls the ball, he has nice potential.

‘However the advantage of Theo is that he has an excellent mindset as properly. It’s not simply, “Oh yeah, I’m athletic, I’m gifted, let’s see what occurs”, he needs to enhance, he needs to get higher, he needs to flourish.

‘I keep in mind seeing him when he first got here to Saracens and from there to the place he was when he acquired injured, it’s not even evening and day, it’s Pluto and Earth.

‘I’ve performed with and in opposition to plenty of Samoans within the Premiership. They’re a combative aspect, they’re extremely bodily, they play the sport with plenty of ardour.’