Maro Itoje and Marcus Rashford mock ‘ignorant’ Gavin Williamson after he mixed them up

MARO Itoje and Marcus Rashford have mocked "ignorant" Gavin Williamson after he mixed the two sporting legends up.

The hopeless Education Secretary was embroiled in the race row after saying he enjoyed chatting with the "charming" Man Utd pro on a Zoom call - before aides revealed he'd been confused with the rugby ace.

Mr Williamson today held his hands up and apologised for the "genuine mistake".

Although both sportsmen appeared to laugh off the gaffe, MPs said it was "final nail in the coffin" for the embattled Cabinet Minister's career.

He confused the sportsmen during a grilling about the Government's U-turn on free school meals - a cause championed by Rashford.

Asked if he had met the campaigning footie pro, he told the Evening Standard: "We met over Zoom and he seemed incredibly engaged, compassionate and charming but then he had to shoot off.

"I didn't want to be the one that was holding him back from his training."

But his aides later admitted to the paper he had actually been speaking to England and Saracens lock Itoje.

Mr Williamson said: "Towards the end of a wide-ranging interview in which I talked about both the laptops and school meals campaigns, I conflated the issues and made a genuine mistake.

"We corrected this with the journalist before publication of the story.

";I have huge respect for both Marcus Rashford and Maro Itoje who run effective and inspiring campaigns."

Mancunian Rashford tweeted: "Accent could have been a giveaway" with a laughing emoji.

Itoje is from London and has a southern accent - while also dwarfing the footballer.

While Rashford is 5ft 9 and weighs 154lbs, muscular forward Itoje towers at 6ft 4 and weighs 240lbs.

Itoje tweeted: "Due to recent speculation I thought it was necessary to confirm that I am not Marcus Rashford…

"And whilst we are here my name is not Mario either!! Just a simple Maro Itoje will do…"

'FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN'

Labour's shadow justice secretary David Lammy fumed: "This is appalling. Gavin Williamson what was it about Maro Itoje that made you mistake him for Marcus Rashford?

"You must be the most ignorant, clueless and incapable Education Secretary in the UK's history."

Lib Dem MP Daisy Cooper raged: "Now he has confused two black sporting heroes and failed to recognise Marcus Rashford, who has led the charge on fighting child poverty.  

"If rumours of an imminent reshuffle are true, this must surely be the final nail in the coffin for Gavin Williamson holding ministerial office ever again."

A string of blunders such as the exams fiasco has put Mr Williamson in the firing line and seen him tipped for demotion at the next reshuffle.

Boris Johnson today threw a protective arm around his beleaguered minister during prime minister's questions.

Asked if his Mr Williamson was fit for office, the PM hailed the "heroic job" his education secretary was doing "in very difficult circumstances".