England forward Maro Itoje has been appointed as the new captain of Saracens ahead of the upcoming Premiership season, replacing longtime skipper Owen Farrell, who has joined Racing 92 in France after nearly 16 years at the north London club.

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Itoje, 29, has been a key figure for Saracens since making his debut in 2013 and has earned 84 caps for England. 

His leadership comes as Saracens enters a new era, following the departures of Farrell and the Vunipola brothers, along with the retirements of Alex Lewington and Sean Maitland.

In an interview on the club's website, Itoje expressed his excitement and pride at taking on the role of captain. 

"I am extremely humbled and honored to be asked to captain this special club," he said. "I love this club and feel we are in an exciting place with the talent and people here, the energy we have and the direction we are going."

Having signed a long-term contract in January, Itoje has made 181 appearances for Saracens, winning five Premiership titles and three European Champions Cups. Now, he will guide a new-look team in pursuit of further success, beginning with its opening match against Gloucester on Sept. 21.

Saracens finished fourth in the Premiership last season, and director of rugby Mark McCall believes Itoje is the perfect choice to lead the team forward. 

"You don’t come across many people like Maro," McCall said. "He has been a leader from a young age, and he epitomizes everything that Saracens stands for - dedication, compassion and relentless pursuit of excellence."

With Itoje at the helm, Saracens aims to maintain its winning culture, while ushering in a fresh chapter at StoneX Stadium.

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