Owen Farrell’s England career ‘probably’ over but ‘likely’ he’ll get Lions pick from dad Andy - Austin Healey
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Published 26/01/2024 at 22:28 GMT
Austin Healey thinks we may have seen the last of Owen Farrell in an England shirt after the fly-half agreed to join Racing 92 from next season but also said it's "highly likely" he will be picked by his dad for the British & Irish Lions. Farrell ruled himself out of the Six Nations and will be ineligible for international selection for the duration of his stay in France under current RFU rules.
Owen Farrell of the British & Irish Lions during the tour match between South Africa "A" and British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on July 14, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Image credit: Getty Images
TNT Sports pundit Austin Healey believes Owen Farrell’s days in an England jersey are over but thinks the fly-half will be selected by his dad Andy for the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia.
Farrell, 32, made himself unavailable for international duty for the upcoming Six Nations before agreeing to leave Saracens and join French Top 14 side Racing 92 on a two-year deal from next season.
Under the RFU’s current laws, as a foreign-based player Farrell will be ineligible to feature for England for the duration of his time in France, but can still represent the Lions for a fourth time.
For it to happen, Owen would be relying on a pick from his dad, Andy, who was announced as Warren Gatland’s successor earlier this month to lead the Lions against the Wallabies in the three-Test series next year.
“He probably won't play for England again,” Healey said on TNT Sports. “It would be very unlikely he’ll play for England again, but I think it's highly likely that his dad will pick him for the Lions.”
Farrell has made 18 appearances for the Lions and scored 129 points across the 2013, 2017 and 2021 Tours of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa respectively.
He is also England’s record points scorer but cited a need to prioritise his and his family’s mental wellbeing as the reason behind his decision to step back from the international game.
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'I can't confirm or deny' - Lancaster hints Farrell could join him at Racing
Speculation then mounted that he was in talks to link up with Stuart Lancaster at Racing, the man who gave him his England debut in 2012.
Those rumours have since been confirmed and Healey thinks it will do Farrell the world of good to get out of the spotlight and get back to just being a rugby player in France’s Top 14.
“I think it's a brilliant decision for him,” Healey said. “Particularly at the time of his career that he's at. He's done everything, he's won almost everything, a few more stages in the World Cup would have been nice, and I think it's the right decision for him.
“He gets to go away, he gets to almost find himself a little bit as a rugby player. He's had a lot of pressure on his shoulders and when those French clubs come calling, it's a big decision, particularly if you've got a family and you want them to have experience, but you also want them to have comfort.
“I was going to go to Stade [Francais] the year after we'd won the final against them in 2001. There was an offer in place, it was very enticing offer, as I'm sure Owen’s is but financially I presume he's OK.
“I don't think it's the main reason that he's going and I hope he goes over there and enjoys it thoroughly.
“I think the interesting thing that Stuart said this week was that he just wants him to come over and be a player. Just play rugby, relax.
“Let's see how good Owen Farrell can get without all the other pressures, without the captaincy, without the leadership roles, just as a rugby player and see what that turns him into because I still think there's a lot more to come from him and his career.”
Healey’s fellow TNT Sports pundit David Flatman echoed those sentiments and also said the move could benefit Farrell, who is set to bring a 16-year stay at Saracens to an end, should he opt to follow in his father’s footsteps into coaching when he hangs his boots up.
“He's one of the greats and in playing terms I agree entirely with Aus, a great move for him,” Flatman said. “Get out the spotlight a little bit, go and try something new, grow as a bloke and a player. I think he's a great signing for Racing as well.
“But aside from the playing bit, you look a bit longer into the future and there is probably a decent chance that he might end up being a rugby coach and while being a one-club man and becoming a coach or a head honcho straightaway at that club can work, I think you're much better off going and experiencing new things in different environments, different gameplans, different languages, and actually working underneath for a couple of years someone like Stuart Lancaster, now a coach of global repute.
“So I think actually, it probably helps him in a lot of ways, coaching also potentially for the future being one of them.”
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