Owen Farrell will be unavailable to England for the foreseeable future after confirming a two-year deal to play French club rugby with ­Racing 92. Farrell, who will be 36 when the next World Cup kicks off, will relocate to Paris this summer, making him ineligible to represent England again until mid-2026.

Although there is a possibility that Farrell may be chosen for the British & Irish Lions’ trip to Australia in the upcoming year, under the coaching of his father Andy, this transfer decision effectively eliminates him from the consideration for England for the next two years.

If the Rugby Football Union does not change its requirements or give the fly-half a special designation, it may be difficult for him to reclaim the England No 10 position if the team succeeds without him.

The top scorer for England has accumulated 112 points in international matches since joining the team in 2012. He also served as captain during the recent World Cup in France, where England placed third.

The French club announced that they have officially signed Owen Farrell to their professional men’s team. The English player will be joining the Ciel et Blanc squad on July 1, 2024 for a two-year commitment.

The move is a coup for Racing and intensifies the cross-Channel drift of England’s leading players. Henry Arundell, Jack Willis, Joe Marchant, David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds and Jack Nowell are all now plying their trade in the wealthier Top 14, with more expected to follow.

Farrell had previously declared his choice to not participate in the Six Nations tournament, citing his desire to prioritize his and his family’s emotional health. It has now been confirmed that he will depart from the England team in June, which holds great significance for his long-standing club Saracens, where he has been a member for 15 years.

Owen Farrell, previously coached by Stuart Lancaster during his time with the England team, will now be joining Lancaster at Racing. Lancaster expressed that Farrell would be a valuable addition to the team, stating, “Who wouldn’t want a player like him?”

I have committed to a four-year term and my goal is to create a winning team for this year and maintain strong competitiveness in the years to come.

Source: theguardian.com