Who is Maro Itoje?

At 10am this morning Eddie Jones announced the England squad to face Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday. As expected Jones has picked a squad with plenty of experience on the international stage, but for one name - 21 year old Maro Itoje. Itoje came off the bench two weeks back in Rome in the 40-9 victory over Italy and was placed at blindside-flanker, however this weekend he has been picked to start at second row alongside Saracens teammate George Kruis.

Ahead of Maro Itoje's first England start this weekend, we've picked out a few key points on England's fresh-faced second row for you which should help you become more familiar with a player who will no doubt be on England team sheets for many years to come:

• Itoje captained the England Under 20 squad to the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in a 21-20 victory over South Africa. 

• Itoje also represented England at under 17 level in the shot-putt.

• He captained the England under 20 team during the 2014 Under-20 Six Nations tournament in which he scored a try in every match, resulting in Itoje being named England's Man Of The Tournament.

Eddie Jones has announced that Maro Itoje will make his
first England start against Ireland on Saturday.

• The Saracens lock was playing in National One with Old Albanians until he made his Saracens debut in the 2014/2015 season. Since then he has climbed up the ranks at the club and captained the first team and started a European Champions Cup semi-final in his first season.

• Camden-born Itoje started his studies at the same Hertfordshire school as Owen Farrell and George Ford, before finishing his studies at the same school as Billy Vunipola.

• As well as a professional rugby career, Itoje is currently reading for a degree in Politics at the School of African and Oriental Studies.

• He was involved in the school choir and thoroughly enjoys writing poetry. With his family roots in Nigeria, Maro often gears his university studies towards underdevelopment in Africa.

Itoje captained the England U20 squad to the 2014 IRB Junior
World Championship.

• Itoje has been given the nickname 'FEC' by his England teammates, meaning 'Future England Captain'. He also has the less-imaginative nickname 'mophead' because of his haircut. 

• At 6ft, 5in and almost 19 stone, Itoje's mobility allows him to play either at second row or in the back row. 

• England's defence coach Paul Gustard has compared the 21 year-old to the likes of Martin Johnson and Paul O'Connell.