England captain Maro Itoje has signed a deal with Swansea City sponsor AG1 ahead of next month’s Nations Championship at Twickenham.

The Saracens forward has penned a two-year agreement to become an athlete ambassador for the wellness brand, which makes drinks supplements.

The lock joins actor Hugh Jackman, racing driver Sir Lewis Hamilton and sprinter Allyson Felix within the AG1 roster as England prepare for a month of international rugby in which they will face New Zealand, Japan and Australia before a finals weekend at Allianz Stadium in London.

AG1 this summer became the front-of-shirt sponsor of Championship high-flyers Swansea City, whose eclectic ownership consortium includes minority holdings for rapper Snoop Dogg, lifestyle guru Martha Stewart and footballer Luka Modric.

The wellness brand offers a green health powder, mixed with water, as its primary product, with the Swansea deal AG1’s first venture in football.

The Chris Ashenden-founded brand, which in 2022 raised $115m in a funding round that valued AG1 at $1.2bn, also has agreements with the wider England Rugby organisation. 

Itoje on board

Tim Harrington of AG1 said: “Maro embodies exactly what we look for in a partner – someone who lives our product, not just endorses it. His story, on and off the pitch, is proof that consistency compounds. We’re proud to help him tell it.”

Their sponsorship of Swansea City bucked a trend of shirts being fronted by gambling organisations following a voluntary ban of the sector in the same advertising space across the Premier League.

“The partnership will roll out across further film,” a statement read, “including the brand’s ‘Morning Person’ format ft. Maro – as well as longform press, podcast content and a UK event programme in the months ahead, with further details to follow.”

England’s autumn campaign will likely see Itoje extend his number of caps beyond the 102 he currently has.