Andy Devaney
England captain Maro Itoje will bring a bit of Roman theatre to Twickenham this weekend, marking his 100th England appearance in a pair of bespoke UA Magnetico 5s that look less like rugby boots and more like something a gladiator might lace up before clocking in at the Colosseum.
A centurion in cardinal red and gold
To celebrate his century of caps against Ireland at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, Itoje has teamed up with Under Armour on a player-exclusive design that turns his story into footwear. Built on the streamlined Magnetico 5 silhouette, the boot is drenched in cardinal and vital red, slashed through with regal metallic gold – a colourway that manages to say “heritage”, “hostility” and “please don’t tackle me late” all at once.
The cardinal shade isn’t just a marketing department fever dream either. It traces back to Itoje’s very first England cap more than a decade ago, when he joined in the team tradition that sees every debutant share a drink with each of his new team-mates. His bow came in Rome against Italy, and the squad chose red wine – a small ritual that has now fermented into the primary colour reference for his 100-cap boot. From first sip to hundredth cap, the palette has come full circle.
Rome, armour and a rugby centurion
If you’re going to hit 100 caps in Rome’s spiritual echo, you may as well lean into it. The Roman inspiration runs right through the design, with subtle centurion armour cues woven into the upper to symbolise the sheer durability and resilience required for Itoje to reach a century of appearances in one of the most brutal positions on the pitch.
Gold accents punctuate the Magnetico 5’s sleek lines, while a gleaming gold-plate outsole leaves no doubt about the theme. It’s less a boot and more a wearable monument – the kind of thing you could imagine mounted in marble if it weren’t busy chasing rucks and flattening fly-halves.
Faith, family and the details that matter
For all the fire and fury of his on-field persona, Itoje has always been open about the quieter foundations of his life. His faith, in particular, has played a central role in his rise to 100 caps, and that influence is stitched into this design as carefully as any seam.
A religious cross sits on the U-throat of the boot and on the lace tips – small, personal markers that travel into every collision with him. They’re not screaming for attention, but they’re there, close to the heart and the hands, grounding the gladiator in something deeper than just the scoreline.
As with all of his boots, the familiar MI4 logo appears on the medial side and in the sock liner, another nod to continuity in a career that has been anything but ordinary. It’s a reminder that while this is a special-edition piece, it still belongs to the same man who has been anchoring England’s engine room for the last decade.
A meaningful collaboration
For Under Armour, this is more than a colour refresh; it’s a full-blooded character study in leather, carbon and plating. For Itoje, it’s a chance to freeze-frame a milestone moment in something tangible – a boot that carries memories of Rome, rituals, belief and the grind behind the glory.
“It’s been great to collaborate with Under Armour on this project. They always give me the freedom to express myself and what’s important to me. Commemorating my 100th cap with this iconic boot has been a meaningful and rewarding process, remembering my journey and everything that has helped me on the way to this moment.” Maro Itaje
Walking into history
When he runs out against Ireland, Maro Itoje won’t just be leading England into another seismic Six Nations clash; he’ll be stepping into a new chapter of his own story – in boots that tell it for him before he even hits the first ruck.
A century of caps, a splash of Roman drama, a toast to that first glass of red and a quiet tribute to the faith that’s guided him there: Under Armour’s latest Magnetico 5 isn’t just a boot. For one night at Twickenham, it’s the armour of a modern rugby centurion.
