Owen Farrell is set to reunite with former England head coach Stuart Lancaster at Racing 92 in France ahead of the 2024/25 season.Farrell is set to leave Saracens at the end of the current campaign and join the Paris-based club on a two-year deal
by Geraint Hughes, Sky Sports News
Monday 26 February 2024, UK, 18:51
Former England head coach Stuart Lancaster said: sky sports Owen Farrell could play for England again and has '2027 World Cup inside of him'.
Lancaster was instrumental in the signing of Owen Farrell with French Top 14 side Racing 92 last month, with the former England head coach now managing the Parisian giants.
Lancaster gave Farrell his first England cap in 2012 and has a long and trusted relationship not only with Owen, but also with his father, Ireland international and British Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell.
Farrell decided to step away from playing for England at the end of last year and has not taken part in England's Six Nations campaign this season. Farrell's decision to step back from captaincy and international football was to protect his family's mental health, as the often intense pressures of leading England led to abuse on social media and during last autumn's Rugby World Cup. made worse by boos.
Current RFU eligibility laws exclude players who play rugby for their club outside England. The 32-year-old looked set to end his glittering career with 112 caps for England after Farrell signed a two-year contract with Racing 92. Lancaster, who will coach Farrell when he joins the Parisian club later this year, says that is not the case.
“(I) don't know if that's going to happen…it depends on what he and Steve (Borthwick) think,” Lancaster said.
“His contract is for two years, so it will take him until 2026. Johnny Sexton played for Ireland and Leinster until he was 38, but Owen is 32, so he definitely has 2027 in him. I'm never going to say no, but Owen's not going to do that.'' And why should he?
“Owen played a big part in the decision to come here. Things didn't go well (for him) at the Rugby World Cup, but the same thing happened for me in 2015. And the best thing I did was was to go to Owen's Ireland.
“I hope he eventually returns to England as a player or coach, but I think he will have a good few years here, just like Jonny Wilkinson did when he went to Toulon.”
Mental health and family come first
Farrell's decision to leave England is similar to the experience Lancaster faced when he was in charge of England at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
England had high expectations as the host nation, but the tournament ended with defeats to Wales and Australia in the group stage, making England the first host nation to be eliminated before advancing to the knockout stages.
Speaking at Racing 92's impressive training facility in the south-west suburbs of Paris, Lancaster spoke about the severe nature of the abuse he and his family suffered. “I went through something similar. The 2015 World Cup didn't go well. My kids were 15 and 16 at the time, and not only me but his wife and parents paid the price. I paid.
“I understand that feeling, but Owen had a really tough time in the last World Cup and when the story changes, you forget all the good things you did in the past, you forget everything you did. Now it's looked at in a negative light.
“I decided to go to Ireland. You are appreciated and welcomed. That is exactly how Rashin feels about Owen. We hug his family and he is welcome too. Let’s go.”
Can Lancaster return to coaching in England?
After four years with England, the 54-year-old decided he needed to get away and it was Ireland who came calling. He joined Leinster's coaching set-up and enjoyed seven highly successful seasons in Dublin, where, as Lancaster says, “When Racing comes chatting to you, listen!”
Lancaster signed a four-year contract with Paris. His and the club's ambitions are to win both European Cups, something Racing have never done before, and lift the Top 14 title again.
The obvious attraction for Racing's owners is Lancaster's ability to tap into young homegrown talent, but he will also be able to find local talent in Paris and blend it with players from South Africa, England, Wales, Argentina, Fiji and Georgia. There will be a need.
Lancaster, who was a teacher before becoming a rugby coach, achieved great success and recognition for his time with England Saxons (now known as England 'A') and his development of young talent. After all, it was Lancaster who gave the 20-year-old Farrell his first England cap.
It also gave Owen's father, Andy, his first international coaching job in rugby union when he was 'loaned' to the established Saxons in 2010, and then with Lancaster's England senior team in 2011. He was appointed assistant and defense coach.
According to Lancaster, the wider competition between Racing 92 and France's Top 14 is similar to the Premier League.
Rugby has a much larger following in France, particularly in the traditional rugby regions of the south of the country and in Paris, home to Racing 92 and Stade Français.
The former England head coach, who was perhaps once disliked by the French in a sporting sense simply because he was British, now recognizes that the environment in which he works is a challenge.
“You've got a support team, you've got relegation, you've got play-offs, you've got bigger TV coverage, you've got a lot more publicity than in England. It's big and it feels a bit like the Premier League model,” he said. Ta.
But what about unfinished business? How did the match against England end? “I'm not angry, disappointed or hurt, but the hurt for me and my family at the time was deep.
“I'm still trying to help as much as I can (against England). I've talked to Steve[Borthwick]and Richard Wigglesworth, and my son Dan plays for Ealing Trailfinders. “There is no obstacle to supporting England.”
“International coaching, don't say never. Not necessarily in England or Ireland, but probably in the southern hemisphere. The appeal is strong. And why not France?! But… Don't get ahead of yourself. I have a challenge here.'' Paris. Our goal is to win here.”
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