Genge says he finds one of the hardest things about modern rugby is the demands that it makes 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’s been good, but I’d be lying to you if I said I haven’t struggled,” he said.
“It’s quite daunting really. I don’t like leaving them [family] at home anymore.
“I said to 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] the other day, ‘I actually understand why you packed it in a few times, because it’s difficult, packing up and leaving, packing up and leaving’.
“It’s been tough, but in the same breath, I always say to my missus, if I’m here, I’m all in. You’ve got to be unapologetically committed to the situation.”
With usual captain Maro Itoje on the bench, the meeting with Fiji will mark Genge’s third time leading England.
His first was a record home defeat – the 53-10 mauling by France in March 2023 – and his second was a 20-9 loss to Wales in a World Cup warm-up five months later.
