by Owen Farrell has not ruled out a possible return to England despite admitting the backlash from supporters during last year’s World Cup in France was difficult to take at times.
The 32-year-old decided to step back from the international stage in November to “prioritise the mental wellbeing of his family” and his move to Top 14 side Racing 92 next season will ensure he will not be available to Steve Borthwick for the next. two seasons.
However, the former England captain, fresh from a two-month layoff, insists he still has plenty to achieve as a player. He cut an upbeat figure at Saracens’ training base near St Albans on Wednesday, for his first press conference since the World Cup last October.
And when asked about the possibility of a Test return – with the possibility of representing Great Britain and the Irish in Australia next year – he said it would depend on how he felt down the line.
“I’ve taken a step back and obviously change is happening next year,” said Farrell, who has won 112 caps for England. “We’ll see then. I don’t even want to say anything now because I don’t know how I’ll feel later down the line. We’ll see.
“Everyone has been very supportive. Everyone had an understanding. All they have done is offer support. When I sat down and talked to people here [Saracens] and spoke to Steve and explained my reasons for making the decision, they were very supportive.”
A move back to England could see Farrell available again in time for the 2027 World Cup in Australia and Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has claimed the former captain intends to end his international career expand if he wished.
“There are very few players who can, and I think he’s one of them,” McCall said. “But you have to have the drive to do that, you have to have the competitive spirit to do that. I think he has that. He can carry on with that drive, and there’s a competitive spirit.”
The break has clearly done him good. Farrell is set to make his 250th appearance for Saracens in the Premiership clash against Harlequins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
He spent some time in Ireland during the break, to watch his 12-year-old brother Gabriel play a club match for Old Belvedere, and also watched England from the stands at Twickenham when Borthwick’s side lost to Ireland who was coached by Farrell’s father Andy, in the game. Six Nations.
Asked if the experience left him wanting to be out there again, he said: “You sit there and watch any big game like that and you want to be involved but I’m happy with the decision at the moment.
“That’s not to say that it’s not going to be up and down, and it’s not going to change anytime soon but you try to do it for the right reasons. I think I have done that. But when there’s a big game on – you watch New Zealand against South Africa and you want to be a part of it – I sat there itching to watch it a bit, like I did at home. But I’m quite happy.”
‘The World Cup was difficult at times’
Having time to watch his younger brother play, and witness Ireland’s victory over Italy in Dublin in February, gave him time to reflect on his decision to step away from the limelight. test.
“You go through a range of emotions at that time,” he said. “Overall I felt good. I’ve wanted to do things I’ve wanted to do for a long time and never had the chance. That would be one of them.”
The break has allowed Farrell to refocus on why he loves the game, admitting that his World Cup success sometimes left him wondering why, after having the right to done by his team and his country.
“Sometimes, yes, I do, but it just comes back to what I’ve been trying to do all along, which is to do my best, to do my best for of the people around me, and for myself,” he said. . “So that’s the constant that remains throughout.
“Obviously the World Cup was difficult at times but again, I really enjoyed the playing side and being involved. I just wanted to get back to enjoying myself, wanting to enjoy my rugby back, wanting to love what I’m doing again. I am working to do that.
Addressing his decision to quit England, Farrell added: “I just wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing as a family, by myself. Everything else that was going on, I can’t control that. That’s not up to me.
“I’m not the most outgoing person on social media, I’m not the most talkative person in general, unless it’s usually about rugby. So I guess I’ve never been someone who gave too much of myself, and I don’t expect people to know what I’m like, I guess, what I’m like as a person.
“So I think when it gets personal, it would be foolish of me to listen to him. I was just trying to do the right thing between us.”
‘No decisions to be made about the Lions’
His move to France would not prevent him from being selected for the Lions next year but it is not something he has yet raised with his father, Andy, who will be the head coach for the tour of Australia.
“Did I talk to my father about it?” he said. “I told him ‘you’re good’, if that counts [referring to Ireland’s Six Nations title win].
“There’s nothing to talk about – whatever happens, happens. There are no decisions to be made about that. When it gets closer to the time, I think things either become clear or they don’t. You see how people are at that time. There is nothing to talk about at the moment.”
Saracens is the immediate target and the club’s attempt to revive their bid for the Premier League title as well as go deep into the Champions Cup could lead to more silverware lead to working under former England coach Stuart Lancaster at Racing.
“Do you think I’m dying?” he said, with a smile. “I want to play as long as I can as long as I’m enjoying it. I love playing. That was always the case, even during the tougher bits like I talked about. I loved the game, and I loved rugby.
“I want to enjoy it all a little more. I’m going back to doing it here at the club, I’ve done that over this time during the Six Nations, and I really want to do that towards the end of the year. And then I want to improve it next year too. That’s how I think I’ll get the best out of myself and play my best. We’ll see what happens.”
