Inside rugby star Maro Itoje’s family life with fiancé Mimi

It won’t be long now until we’re back in rugby mode and following the 2025 Lions Tour which is set to see several big-name Irish players on the line-up.

Andy Farrell will announce his team on Thursday afternoon but the name everyone is tipping to be confirmed as captain is Maro Itoje.

So, just who is Maro and what do we know about the England rugby ace’s life away from the pitch? Here’s what we could sleuth out!

Maro’s rugby career

Maro was born in Camden, London, and didn’t start playing rugby until he was 11. He was introduced to the sport at secondary school.

He also played shot put and basketball before deciding rugby was the sport for him and he earned his first senior England cap in 2016 against Italy.

Maro has taken part in a Lions tour before and was the youngest member of the team when they went to New Zealand in 2017 when he was 22.

The Saracens lock was appointed as England’s captain in January ahead of the 2025 Six Nations.

He’s engaged

Maro popped the question to his girlfriend Mimi Fall during a holiday to Nigeria and Ghana in August 2024.

Mimi announced their engagement on Instagram, sharing a slew of snaps showing off her sparkling ring and the sweet caption: ‘Mrs I to be.’

Maro later spoke about the special moment with the Daily Mail, saying: ‘We went to this beautiful aqua-safari in Ada, which is on the coast, about two hours from Accra. It was a beautiful resort, and I popped the question there.’

How they met

As well as playing rugby, Maro is a model and has graced the cover of publications such as Tatler where he posed alongside Prince William and Harry’s cousin Lady Amelia Windsor.

Mimi is also a model and it’s believed that the couple met while on a shoot for a modelling job – how cool!

Maro’s cousin is also a rugby player

Talk about talent running in the family! Beno Obano, who plays for Bath rugby, is Maro’s cousin.

The duo were born just three days apart and often publicly support each other. Beno has also appeared on Maro’s podcast, Pearl Conversations, where they spoke about growing up together.

Maro said: ‘For you and I, rugby has never really been [there] when we were growing up – as you said, from when we were born to when we went to secondary school.

‘Before then, rugby was never really a thing for us. Coming from a Nigerian household where, if it’s any sport at all, it’s football. If it’s not football, then it’s books.’