Owen Farrell will be unable to feature for England for the foreseeable future as he has confirmed a two-year contract to play club rugby in France with Racing 92. Farrell, who will be 36 when the next World Cup starts, will be based in Paris this summer and will not be eligible to represent England again until mid-2026.
In theory, Farrell, 32, could still be selected for next year's tour of Australia with the British & Irish Lions, who are coached by his father Andy, but this would rule him out of England's squad for the next two seasons. There is no doubt about it.
Unless the Rugby Football Union chooses to amend its eligibility rules or give special status to fly-halves, he will regain the Red Rose No. 10 jersey even if the national team succeeds in his absence. You may think that it is difficult to
Le Racing 92 officially represents Owen Farrell's masculine profession.
Le communiqué de press: https://t.co/3Ap6hAXadr pic.twitter.com/UJXsarhk1R
— Racing 92 (@racing92) January 22, 2024
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England's record scorer has won 112 international caps since his debut in 2012 and was captain at the recent World Cup in France, where they finished third.
The French club said in a statement: “Racing 92 have officially signed Owen Farrell within their men's professional team. The England international will join the team after committing for two seasons. Ciel et Blanc He will join the team from July 1, 2024. ”
The move is a coup for Racing and intensifies the flow of England's top players across the Channel. Henry Arundel, Jack Willis, Joe Merchant, David Ribans, Sam Simmons and Jack Nowell have now entered the richer top 14, with many more expected to follow. .
Farrell had previously announced his decision not to play in this Six Nations Championship as he wanted to prioritize his and his family's mental health. The official announcement that Farrell will leave England in June is also a significant moment for his former club Saracens, where he has played for 15 years.
He will now link up with former England coach Stuart Lancaster, who will now manage Racing. Lancaster said earlier this month: “He would be a fantastic signing… who wouldn't want a player like Owen Farrell?”
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“I'm contracted here for four years, and what I'm trying to do is build a team that wins this year and is very competitive for years to come.”
