England captain Ellis Genge says rugby should relish hostility and aggression

Genji says he finds one of the hardest things about modern rugby to be the demands it places on his family life.

After spending six weeks on tour with the British and Irish Lions over the summer, the 30-year-old father of three had mixed feelings about returning to the England camp for the autumn internationals.

“It was good, but I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t suffer,” he said.

“It’s really quite hard. I don’t like leaving them [family] At home anymore.

“I told Joe Marler [former England prop who retired from international rugby at the age of 28 to spend more time with his family before returning to the Test scene] On that day, “I really understand why you have to pack so many times, because it is difficult to pack up and leave, pack up and leave.”

“It’s been difficult, but at the same time, I always tell my lady, if you’re here, I’m fully prepared. You have to be unapologetically committed to the situation.”

With usual captain Maro Itoje on the bench, the encounter with Fiji will be Genji’s third time in charge of England.

Their first was a record home defeat – a 53-10 defeat to France in March 2023 – and their second was a 20-9 loss to Wales in the build-up to the World Cup five months later.