Jamie George was a brilliant England captain and doesn't need the title to lead, says Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall.

With a record of five wins in 12 games, Jamie George will not go down as one of England’s great captains. Few men in the professional era, however, have skippered England with more pride or sacrificed more to lead their country.

England hooker Jamie George had no idea he would be stripped of the captaincy for his country until the day before Steve Borthwick named his Six Nations squad. George captained England in all 12 of their Test matches last year but will be replaced as skipper by his Saracens team-mate Maro Itoje during the Six Nations.

Maro Itoje replaces Jamie George as England captain for Six Nations campaign - Saracens hooker demoted to vice skipper alongside Ellis Genge

But Borthwick has opted to replace George with Saracens team-mate Itoje amid mounting speculation over the hooker’s place in England’s starting XV for next month’s Six Natio

Maro Itoje has been named England captain for this year’s Six Nations. Steve Borthwick has taken the armband from his Saracens teammate Jamie George, who skippered the team to mixed success in the Autumn Nations Series last year.

England coach Steve Borthwick sprung a surprise when naming his Six Nations squad on Tuesday when he made lock Maro Itoje his new captain in place of Jamie George, though the hooker was still included in the 36-man training group.

Maro Itoje has replaced Jamie George as England captain for the Six Nations, head coach Steve Borthwick said Tuesday as he named a 36-man squad for the tournament. "With 88 England caps, Maro has been a central figure in this squad for many years,

Maro Itoje replaces Jamie George as England captain for Six Nations - George has been in charge since the 2023 World Cup but is demoted to vice-skipper alongside Ellis Genge.