The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Judith Benjamin
Maro Itoje truly looked like a marquee player for Saracens on Saturday, as they thrashed London rivals Harlequins – even if he is not going to be one, officially, for much longer.
That is due to losing ‘marquee’ status. Premiership clubs used to be allowed two such players each, who could be paid from outside the salary cap, but now they can only have one. Saracens appear to have nominated Owen Farrell to remain in that exalted category, with associated financial benefits.
Rumours about the England captain switching to rugby league to play for Wigan – where he was born and initially raised – had grown louder, but the union champions are determined to keep him.
Many people have responded with incredulity to this news, partly based on the relative ages of the two Test stalwarts who were vying for one marquee slot. Itoje is 29, Farrell is 32. So the younger man may have hoped to be backed, as someone with a longer future – nominally – ahead of him. Instead, Saracens seem to have prioritised their captain and primary playmaker, which is hardly a shocking development. He has acquired an army of detractors, but Farrell is the club king-pin.
