by Throughout Jamie George’s international career the 33-year-old has always come across as a fan as much as a player.
The new England captain now has 85 caps for his country and toured with the Lions in 2017 and 2021. But if he wasn’t on the pitch, one suspects the next best thing would be sitting in the stand with his friends.
That unbridled passion for his country is one of the reasons why Borthwick turned to George to succeed Owen Farrell as England captain. It is also why Borthwick’s challenge to his Twickenham player into a fortress is once again so exciting for the Saracens’ hurler.
England’s win ratio at Twickenham is just 50 per cent since the start of 2021-22. And even before he was appointed England captain last week, that dominated George’s thoughts. “I could not agree more with what Steve said, I think the record speaks for itself,” said George Telegraph Sport. “It’s not good enough. The England team should not lose at home. Twickenham should be an awesome place to come and play.
“I think there are many factors that go into that. I look at what Quins are doing with their ‘Big Game’ in terms of putting things in perspective and getting the crowd involved in that. I think there are lessons to be learned there. Likewise, what we do at Saracens for our big game at Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
“We have some work to do as players because we want to get people out of their seats. I think that comes through in the way we play, how much pride we show, how physical we are and how much it means to us.
“To sit down with Steve and listen to him talk about making Twickenham a fortress again and bringing the fans with us is something I can relate to massively. And that is something that is very much at the forefront of my mind.
“Every time I play for England, if we lose, I feel we let the fans down. And I would go on that rollercoaster with people.”
‘My uncle doesn’t feel connected to England’
The relationship between the England team and their supporters seemed strained at times during the World Cup campaign in France. The atmosphere in the back-to-back defeat against Argentina in Marseille was exhilarating but there were also times when those who had paid a lot of money to travel to France found themselves pushing their their own team, it seems they were frustrated with the limited game plan.
When George came back home and spent some time with his uncle, Robbie, who has been the head coach of Old Towcestrians in Midland League One for the past 30 years, he realized the extent of the rebuilding work that was needed. He intends to use his position on the board of the new Team England body set up to represent the players to address the matter with the Rugby Football Union.
“He [Robbie] talking about maybe he doesn’t feel that connection with the team and that’s a red flag for me,” said George, whose father Ian was a half and wing for Northampton Saints, London Welsh and the Barbarians. “I haven’t got the answers at the moment but what I understand is that if I’m given any roles or responsibilities within the team, whether it’s in the full squad or not, I want to make sure. that we want to build that.
“It’s also really important that we’ve set this thing up as Team England so we can sit down with Bill Sweeney. [the RFU chief executive] and say: ‘We as players see the importance of this connection, how can we improve that?’”
These are not throwaway words. George was among those English players who attracted interest from French clubs after the World Cup, but as soon as Borthwick made it known that he was part of his plans, he was one of the first players to agree on the new hybrid contracts offered by the RFU and has just signed a new two-year contract with Saracens.
‘I grew up going to Twickenham and I loved it’
George has clearly thought hard about how the England team can re-engage with their supporters ahead of the start of the Guinness Six Nations Championship next month. If there is one thing that will probably define his tenure as England captain, it is this.
“My overwhelming message from the World Cup goal after South Africa’s semi-final was a matter of pride,” he said. “There were frustrations along the way throughout that trip and I understand that but I think the fight and the character we showed in the semi-final put the pride back in the jersey so I think there’s excitement on the horizon from now on. Six Nations.
“And for me, that’s the minimum that an England team should be able to prove, not just at Twickenham but anywhere. He was always at the forefront showing how much it means to me to play for England. I grew up going to Twickenham as a kid and I loved it. I want to play with a smile on my face and I want to show what a great opportunity it is for me to play there. I think that has to do with the fans as well.
“I think there is a way to connect with the fans off the pitch as well through the way we engage with the media, through social media and through the way we speak and talk to community clubs and bring those people on a trip with us. . Because I want England fans to feel part of this England team.
“That means a lot to me because when I sat there as a fan myself, I felt like a member of the team. I want everyone to feel that way and go on the journey with us – when it’s good and when it’s not so good – and enjoy the moments when it’s good because that’s what it is involved in the end.
“I think it’s an exciting time to be an England rugby player and it’s an exciting time to be an England rugby fan because we’ve laid a good foundation at the World Cup and now is our chance to kick it. and show us what we’re really up to with a group of talented young players who can go and do special things.”
Jamie George is an ambassador for Funding Circle. For more information on Funding Circle and its range of financial products, visit https://www.fundingcircle.com/uk
