Owen Farrell not focused on ‘hypothetical' Lions talk after rejoining Saracens
The 33-year-old this week cut short his stay at Racing 92 in order to move back to the Premiership with the club where he had previously spent his whole career, after injury wrecked his debut season in the Top 14.
The fly-half, who announced he was stepping away from Test rugby with England following the 2023 World Cup citing a toll on his mental health, said he is 'not retired' from international duty and has kept in contact with coach Steve Borthwick during his time in France.
🏠.#YourSaracens💫 pic.twitter.com/kqYu5UXT6Q
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) June 16, 2025
He was not named in the 38-man Lions squad picked last month by his dad Andy despite there being no rules prohibiting his selection while he was based outside of England, but he has left open the possibility of answering the call should injuries dictate.
Asked what his stance would be on a possible call-up, he said: 'It's not changed I don't think.
'There's nothing for me to do other than concentrate on getting myself back (at Saracens) and getting myself in the best place I possibly can do. Everything else is hypothetical.'
Farrell Sr had previously left the door open to his son joining up with the Lions in Australia, though he was not among the additional players recruited for a training camp in Portugal last week.
He will however be in attendance when the team play Argentina in Dublin on Friday as he makes his debut as a TV pundit during Sky Sports' coverage of the game.
The Saracens returnee, who has taken part in three previous Lions tours, was asked whether it was reasonable to assume he would be in the running for a late call-up given his experience.
'I'm not thinking like that,' he said. 'I think if you do start thinking like that you can tie yourself in knots. All that I can do is focus on what I've got going on and get myself in the best place I can be.'
Farrell has not played since suffering a head injury during Racing's defeat to Lyon in last month's Challenge Cup semi-final, while a groin problem previously caused him to miss significant periods of what has turned to be his only season in France.
The return to Saracens means he becomes immediately available for selection for Borthwick's England.
'We've kept in touch with Steve,' he said. 'He came out to Racing earlier in the season. The main thing is getting myself in a good place, getting myself back here, back in the Premiership to Saracens and loving what I'm doing. I really feel like I can do that here. That's the starting point.
'I keep talking about enjoying myself, I keep talking about being happy, but I think that's the way that I get more out of it now. That's what opens up a lot more opportunity. If I get to that and I'm loving what I'm doing then we'll see.
'I'm not retired, no.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
28 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Andy Farrell – The born leader tasked with putting the Lions back on top
'We are taking them boys to the hurt arena this weekend,' he told players in his role as an assistant to Warren Gatland. 'Our mentality is going to be a different mentality than what the British Lions teams have had over the last 16 years.' 🗣💪💥'We are taking them boys to the Hurt Arena this weekend' How can you not feel the #MondayMotivation from this speech by Andy Farrell?#LionsRugby — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) March 8, 2021 The Lions subsequently romped to a 41-16 victory in Sydney and a first tour triumph since 1997. Ahead of a reunion with the Wallabies, Farrell, who concedes his modern-day team talks are 'probably not as dramatic', is tasked with returning the team to winning ways. A 1-1 series draw in New Zealand in 2017, for which he again joined Gatland's backroom staff, was followed by the Lions' 2-1 loss to South Africa amid Covid-19 restrictions in 2021. Farrell's elevation to head coach – only the second Englishman to hold the role in the last 75 years, after Sir Clive Woodward in 2005 – was anything but a surprise. The 2023 World Rugby coach of the year was odds-on favourite to land one of the sport's most prestigious posts after establishing Ireland as global heavyweights. His true emergence as the outstanding candidate to succeed Gatland came in 2022 when he masterminded a stunning series success in New Zealand. The historic achievement launched a 17-match winning streak which brought Six Nations Grand Slam glory, victory over each of rugby's leading Test sides and time at the top of the world rankings. Defeat to the All Blacks in the World Cup quarter-finals in October 2023 finally halted the record-breaking run of victories. Yet that disappointment did little to damage the rising stock of a born leader renowned for emotional intelligence, superb man-management skills, a shrewd rugby brain and an unflappable mentality. Farrell bounced back to lead Ireland to a second successive Six Nations title in 2024 and a drawn summer series against world champions South Africa before embarking on his Lions sabbatical – a term he is not a fan of – after ending the autumn with victory over Joe Schmidt's Wallabies. 'It sounds like I'm going on holiday – and that's not the case, I can guarantee you that,' he said in November. Born in Wigan in May 1975, dual code international Farrell represented his hometown club in rugby league with distinction. A goal-kicking loose forward, he made his first-team debut in November 1991 at the age of 16 – two months after the birth of son Owen, the former England captain – and regularly lifted silverware, in addition to twice being named Man of Steel. Farrell switched codes to play for Saracens in 2005 but the transition was severely hampered by foot surgery and back problems, including a prolapsed disc after a car crash. Injuries limited him to just eight Test caps in rugby union and kept him sidelined for the latter stages of England's run to the 2007 World Cup final, where they finished runners-up to South Africa. Farrell was later joined at Saracens by a teenage Owen and then remained with the Premiership club following retirement in 2009 to begin his coaching career before joining the England setup under Stuart Lancaster ahead of the 2012 Six Nations. Four years later, the 50-year-old headed across the Irish Sea seeking to rebuild his reputation after being dismissed by newly-appointed England coach Eddie Jones in the aftermath of a dismal home World Cup. Farrell, who initially served as Ireland's defence coach under Schmidt before stepping into the top job following the 2019 World Cup, has since given the RFU cause for regret. Following a rocky transitional period amid the coronavirus pandemic, his vision of a slick system of short, swift interplay featuring multiple dummy runners and 'messy wingers' free to roam from the flanks clicked into gear in devastating fashion and to widespread acclaim. An epic fixture schedule locked in! 🔒🦁#Lions2025 #WeGoBeyond — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) June 5, 2025 His well-earned reward has been two contract extensions from the IRFU – initially until 2025 and then 2027 – and now an opportunity to lead the Lions. 'This means the world to me,' said Farrell when his appointment was announced in January last year. 'To be thought of as a candidate for the head coach's role is pretty special, but to be chosen is pretty magical.'
Rhyl Journal
28 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
British and Irish Lions' summer fixtures and kick-off times
Here, the PA news agency looks at the fixture schedule (all times BST): Fri, Jun 20: Aviva Stadium, Dublin: Lions v Argentina (2000)Sat, Jun 28: Optus Stadium, Perth: Western Force v Lions (1100)Wed, Jul 2: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane: Queensland Reds v Lions (1100)Sat, Jul 5: Allianz Stadium, Sydney: NSW Waratahs v Lions (1100)Wed, Jul 9: GIO Stadium, Canberra: ACT Brumbies v Lions (1100)Sat, Jul 12: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide: Invitational Australia/New Zealand v Lions (1100)Sat, Jul 19: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane: First Test: Australia v Lions (1100)Tue, July 22: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne: First Nations & Pasifika XV v Lions (1100)Sat, Jul 26: MCG, Melbourne: Second Test: Australia v Lions (1100)Sat, Aug 2: Accor Stadium, Sydney: Third Test: Australia v Lions (1100)
South Wales Argus
30 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Andy Farrell – The born leader tasked with putting the Lions back on top
'We are taking them boys to the hurt arena this weekend,' he told players in his role as an assistant to Warren Gatland. 'Our mentality is going to be a different mentality than what the British Lions teams have had over the last 16 years.' 🗣💪💥'We are taking them boys to the Hurt Arena this weekend' How can you not feel the #MondayMotivation from this speech by Andy Farrell?#LionsRugby — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) March 8, 2021 The Lions subsequently romped to a 41-16 victory in Sydney and a first tour triumph since 1997. Ahead of a reunion with the Wallabies, Farrell, who concedes his modern-day team talks are 'probably not as dramatic', is tasked with returning the team to winning ways. A 1-1 series draw in New Zealand in 2017, for which he again joined Gatland's backroom staff, was followed by the Lions' 2-1 loss to South Africa amid Covid-19 restrictions in 2021. Farrell's elevation to head coach – only the second Englishman to hold the role in the last 75 years, after Sir Clive Woodward in 2005 – was anything but a surprise. The 2023 World Rugby coach of the year was odds-on favourite to land one of the sport's most prestigious posts after establishing Ireland as global heavyweights. Andy Farrell guided Ireland to back-to-back Guinness Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam in 2023 (Brian Lawless/PA) His true emergence as the outstanding candidate to succeed Gatland came in 2022 when he masterminded a stunning series success in New Zealand. The historic achievement launched a 17-match winning streak which brought Six Nations Grand Slam glory, victory over each of rugby's leading Test sides and time at the top of the world rankings. Defeat to the All Blacks in the World Cup quarter-finals in October 2023 finally halted the record-breaking run of victories. Yet that disappointment did little to damage the rising stock of a born leader renowned for emotional intelligence, superb man-management skills, a shrewd rugby brain and an unflappable mentality. Farrell bounced back to lead Ireland to a second successive Six Nations title in 2024 and a drawn summer series against world champions South Africa before embarking on his Lions sabbatical – a term he is not a fan of – after ending the autumn with victory over Joe Schmidt's Wallabies. 'It sounds like I'm going on holiday – and that's not the case, I can guarantee you that,' he said in November. Born in Wigan in May 1975, dual code international Farrell represented his hometown club in rugby league with distinction. A goal-kicking loose forward, he made his first-team debut in November 1991 at the age of 16 – two months after the birth of son Owen, the former England captain – and regularly lifted silverware, in addition to twice being named Man of Steel. Farrell switched codes to play for Saracens in 2005 but the transition was severely hampered by foot surgery and back problems, including a prolapsed disc after a car crash. Injuries limited him to just eight Test caps in rugby union and kept him sidelined for the latter stages of England's run to the 2007 World Cup final, where they finished runners-up to South Africa. Andy Farrell, right, has not picked son Owen for the Lions tour of Australia (Mike Egerton/PA) Farrell was later joined at Saracens by a teenage Owen and then remained with the Premiership club following retirement in 2009 to begin his coaching career before joining the England setup under Stuart Lancaster ahead of the 2012 Six Nations. Four years later, the 50-year-old headed across the Irish Sea seeking to rebuild his reputation after being dismissed by newly-appointed England coach Eddie Jones in the aftermath of a dismal home World Cup. Farrell, who initially served as Ireland's defence coach under Schmidt before stepping into the top job following the 2019 World Cup, has since given the RFU cause for regret. Following a rocky transitional period amid the coronavirus pandemic, his vision of a slick system of short, swift interplay featuring multiple dummy runners and 'messy wingers' free to roam from the flanks clicked into gear in devastating fashion and to widespread acclaim. His well-earned reward has been two contract extensions from the IRFU – initially until 2025 and then 2027 – and now an opportunity to lead the Lions. 'This means the world to me,' said Farrell when his appointment was announced in January last year. 'To be thought of as a candidate for the head coach's role is pretty special, but to be chosen is pretty magical.'
