The England captain Maro Itoje has piled into the ruck surrounding Jim Ratcliffe’s comments about immigration, dismissing the Manchester United co-owner’s views as “ridiculous”. Itoje, whose parents both came to Britain from Nigeria, has criticised the phrasing and accuracy of Ratcliffe’s remarks. I think it’s wrong.” Itoje acknowledged that Ratcliffe has since sought to clarify his words – “If I’ve read correctly he has apologised for his comments” – but the 31-year-old clearly remains seriously unimpressed. Ratcliffe subsequently said he was sorry his “choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe”. I don’t come from a traditional rugby family but my parents became rugby people through and through.

Source: The Irish Times February 13, 2026 21:16 UTC