Next month, England rugby star Maro Itoje dips his toes into the art world for the first time, presenting a group exhibition at Signature African Art gallery in London. ‘A History Untold’ (20 May–19 June) features work by six artists from Africa and the African diaspora – and is intended, Itoje has said, ‘to underline the importance of including more black history on the British national curriculum […], breaking down biases that currently exist’. Taking a break from training, Itoje tells Apollo how he became involved in the exhibition and how he balances his interests in art and politics with professional sport – and why he didn’t become a painter.