Jamie George ‘desperate’ after thinking Test career was ‘done’ following Steve Borthwick’s shock captaincy decision
Jamie George in action for England in 2024.
England hooker Jamie George has revealed he pondered if his Test career was over after having the captaincy stripped before the start of the Six Nations.
George, who is in line to win his 100th cap this weekend against Italy, led England throughout 2024 but was replaced by Saracens clubmate Maro Itoje at the start of the Championship.
Jamie George opens up on losing England captaincy
Since losing the mantle as captain, George has won two further caps, taking him to 99 across his career, but he revealed he thought his Test career was over when Steve Borthwick initially told him the decision.
“It was really challenging,” said George. “That hurt, it really did.”
“The first thing on my mind was ‘is that me [done]?’. I have really good people around me, and speaking to my Dad and my wife, you understand what is important. Some of the best times of my life have been playing rugby for England, I love playing rugby for England.”
George’s Test woes were compounded later on in the same week as he picked up a hamstring injury in action for Saracens just days after the announcement.
“The injury came at a weird time before the first game while all of it was going on,” George said. “But I was watching that Ireland game desperate to be involved.”
“There were always question marks (about playing for England after the injury and losing the captaincy) but then I knew I was desperate to go on – whether it was off the bench or in any capacity – I wanted to be on the field and I wanted to be able to help.
“That will be the case as long as I lace my boots up, I want to be helping and contributing any way I can for England.”
As the former skipper alluded to, he has now found a role on the bench, but George has excelled in his two outings in this capacity. In his outings against France and Scotland, George has made an immediate impact and played a pivotal role in getting England over the line to secure narrow wins.
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But his performances haven’t just come from nothing and he detailed the inspiration behind it.
“When I was reflecting on it (losing the captaincy), I took a bit of inspiration from Joe Root (former England Test cricket captain). I look at him now and the freedom he has and the way he has kicked on and become the best batsman in the world.”
“That is hugely inspiring and that’s the trajectory I aspire to replicate. The way he has reacted to it, I see it as a huge positive. It has freed him up and allowed him to play even better than he already was. That is how I would love it to be and I am feeling a bit of that.”
The hooker, who is still vice-captain, has been named as a starter when England welcome Italy to the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham for their round four clash.
