Faith amid the fury – how Lion king Itoje keeps his peace

More than ten years ago, Moussa’s head was in his hands.

Itoje has grown from a highly anticipated teenager to a three-time 30-year-old British and Irish Lion, according to Moussa from the back of the barber’s chair.

One of Itoje’s final appointments before departing for Australia is having his mane trimmed, which he has done for the first time.

Itoje describes the relationship between him and Moussa as “a long”

“It will be challenging on tour.

When you walk into a new barber’s chair, you always need to have some faith, a little bit of a leap of faith. I don’t believe people are too used to Afro-Caribbean hair, especially in Australia!

Over the following five weeks, Itoje will focus on faith and emergency plans.

Former Labour spin guru Alastair Campbell famously said, “We don’t do God. ” When asked about how religion fit into his tactics.

Itoje, who was and continues to be a part of the England team as a youngster, is a true pro.

He revealed that he had missed Bible study while attending his unveiling as Lions captain in May.

His pastor was one of the six people he told before the official announcement that he had been promoted to England captain in January.

Itoje responds to the question about the lengthy travel to both posts with the simple statement, “God’s timing is always the best time.”

He tells BBC Sport, “In the past two or three years, I have made a conscious decision to double down.”

“My entire life was probably a lukewarm Christian,” I said. I probably attended church, but I didn’t really live up to the principles or values, but I’ve always been a believer.

“The person upstairs has given me the humility I have always tried to embody,” he said. “It is unquestionably a gift, not my own doing, but because I know that.”

Itoje’s high standards and his own admission demonstrate that humility hasn’t always been present on previous Lions tours.

He described his 22-year-old self as “a little bit brash and naive,” who won over the Lions fans’ sea of red in 2017 in New Zealand.

He states, “I try to have a daily amount of time that I spend, whether that is reading the Bible or praying, ideally both.”

“I try to study the Bible at least once per week.

“I’m going to try to keep my system up with whatsapp and Zoom calls,” I said.

Itoje’s previous Lions tours ended abruptly.

His team won a drawn series in New Zealand with only three minutes of lead after three Tests.

Four years later, two minutes after the decisive third encounter, Morne Steyn’s kick destroyed the tourists’ dreams in South Africa.

The margins are thin. There are a lot of emotions. The pressure is inexhaustible.

It has the best’s composure scrambled. However, Itoje maintains both his peace and philosophy.

You can’t predict what will happen, he says. Sport is unpredictable.

There is no magic formula for the phrase “sometimes you can deserve to win and lose, and occasionally you can deserve to lose and win.”

You must aim to remain as consistent with your actions as possible, hoping that you will arrive where you are supposed to be throughout it all.

A vast hinterland is only one-third as wide as the outback in terms of faith. Itoje describes his “portfolio existence” off the ice as being “portfolio.”

Itoje founded the Akoje Gallery in 2023, and it is a significant part of it.

He claims that while there is a commercial component to it, “we want to sell art,” he also wants to encourage and advance African art, particularly.

Seven artists received grants from the Akoje Gallery last year to develop their work at Scotland’s picturesque Dumfries House.

The Pearl Fund, which aids underprivileged children in Nigeria and the UK, was established by Itoje. He is passionate about politics. He received a degree in it from the University of London’s SOAS. Since then, he has also earned a business master’s degree.

He traveled to Newcastle on a coach trip as a teenager’s traveling reserve for the Saracens, where he wrote poetry. He has modelled on the catwalk more recently.

He gave a speech about Englishness and identity at a Downing Street reception in April to celebrate St. George’s Day.

He said, “I think people are multi-faceted people; we are not a monolith.”

“I play rugby, I play the sport, but that’s what I do, not who I am. There are also interests for me.

He came to a happy conclusion by making a joke joke about Keir Starmer, the prime minister, standing next to him.

Some people have become suspicious because of his broad interests and depth of thought.

Eddie Jones, a former England coach, openly doubted that Itoje would make a good captain. Jones claimed That Itoje lacked influence over his teammates and was “very inward-looking.”

Itoje firmly disagreed, politely, but with all due respect. Events so far seem to favor the younger man.

England won the second place finish at this year’s Six Nations thanks to Itoje’s clear, composed leadership in 80 minutes.

Video of his passionate, funny, and expletive-free pep talks at Saracens has been fascinating to watch.

Another level of The Lions. There are fewer comforts at home and more scrutiny.

However, Itoje has perspective as he approaches the pinnacle.

Perhaps the hair, though, is the exception.

When he is inquired about the possibility of unintentionally acquiring a mullet down under, he smiles and says, “I hope not.”