As he prepares to become the seventh man to reach 100 England caps, the hooker reflects on losing the captaincy, the importance of resilience and how Joe Root has inspired his next chapter

Jamie George will become an England centurion this weekend against Italy, but feared his international career was over after losing the captaincy to Maro Itoje on the eve of the Six Nations.

England hooker Jamie George said he contemplated walking away from international duty after losing the captaincy to Maro Itoje this year, but decided to carry on after seeking advice from friends, family and coaches.

The 34-year-old succeeded Owen Farrell as England skipper ahead of last year’s championship before being demoted to vice-captain.

Jamie George feared his England career was over after being stripped of the captaincy, but the hooker is set to win his 100th cap in Sunday's Six Nations clash against Italy.Recounting the moment England boss Steve Borthwick took away the captaincy over coffee in St Albans,

He thought his international days could be done after Borthwick’s bombshell but will raise his bat for his 100 th cap, against Italy, on Sunday. George, a big cricket fan, said he had been inspired by Root’s rise from Ashes humiliation and resignation from the captaincy in 2022 to topping the world batting rankings by 2024.

The Calcutta Cup moment that showed Jamie George’s value to England - Replaced as captain by Maro Itoje before this campaign, George has added real value as a bench leader in England’s last two wins

The England vice-captain opens up about how difficult it was to lose the England captaincy before the start of the 2025 Six Nations and tells us how head coach Steve Borthwick broke the news to him.

England hooker Jamie George said he contemplated walking away from international duty after losing the captaincy to Maro Itoje this year, but decided to carry on after seeking advice from friends, family and coaches.