Owen Farrell has not ruled out a possible return for England, despite admitting it was difficult to bear the booing of fans during last year’s World Cup in France.
The 32-year-old decided to withdraw from the international stage in November to “prioritise his and his family’s mental health” and his move to Top 14 team Racing 92 next season will see him sidelined by Steve Borthwick next season. two seasons.
But the former England captain, refreshed after a two-month break, insists he still has a lot he wants to achieve as a player. He held his first press conference since last October’s World Cup in St. The match took place at Saracens’ training base near Albans.
And when asked about the possibility of a Test comeback, which could include representing the British and Irish Lions in Australia next year, he said it would ultimately depend on how he felt.
“I’ve stepped back and obviously there will be a change next year,” said Farrell, who played 112 times for England. “Then we’ll see. There’s no point in saying anything for now because I don’t know how I’ll feel in the future. We’ll see.
“Everybody’s been really supportive. Everybody’s been understanding. All they’ve done is offer support. When I sit here and talk to people [Saracens] “I spoke to Steve and he was really supportive of my reasons for making this decision.”
A return to England could see Farrell fit again for the 2027 World Cup in Australia and Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall claimed the former captain has the ambition to expand his international career if he so chooses.
“There are very few players who can do that and I think he is one of them,” McCall said. “But you have to have the strength to do it, you have to have the competitive spirit to do it. I think he has that. As long as he keeps that motivation and competitive spirit, he can keep going.”
What is certain is that this break has clearly been good for him. Farrell will make his 250th appearance for Saracens in their Premiership match against Harlequins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
During the break he spent time in Ireland to watch his 12-year-old brother Gabriel play for the club for Old Belvedere, and also watched England from the stands at Twickenham when Borthwick’s team defeated the Ireland team coached by Farrell’s father Andy . Six Nations.
Asked if the experience would make him want to get back on the pitch again, he added: “You sit there and watch a big game like this and wish you could get involved but at the moment I’m happy with the decision.
“I’m not saying it won’t have its ups and downs and it won’t change at some point, but you try to do it for the right reasons. I think I’ve done that. But when there’s a big game – if you’re watching New Zealand v South Africa, you want to be involved in that – like I do at home, you just sit there and watch it for a bit.” “I watched it. But I’m quite happy.”
‘The World Cup was difficult at times’
Having time to watch his younger brother play and watch Ireland’s victory over Italy in Dublin in February gave him the opportunity to reflect on his decision to step away from the limelight in the Test arena.
“You go through a wide range of emotions at that time,” he added. “I felt good overall. I was trying to do things that I wanted to do for a long time but never had the opportunity. This would be one of them.”
The break also allowed Farrell to refocus on why he loves the game; He admitted that the booing during the World Cup left him wondering why at times, having done the right thing for his team and country.
“Sometimes yeah, I guess so, but it just comes down to what I’ve been trying to do the whole time, which is to do the best I can, to do the best I can for the people around me and for myself,” he said. . “So this is the constant remaining throughout this.
“Of course the World Cup was tough at times but I still really enjoyed the playing part of the game and being involved. I was just trying to get back to having fun, trying to get back to enjoying my rugby, trying to get back to loving what I do. That’s what I’m working towards.”
Addressing his decision to leave England, Farrell added: “I was just trying to make sure I was doing the right thing as a family, on my own. I can’t control everything that happens. It’s not up to me.”
“I’m not the most outgoing person on social media, normally I’m not the most outspoken in general unless it’s rugby related. I guess I’ve never been someone who gives 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 guess it would be stupid on my part to listen when it gets personal. I was just trying to do what was right for both of us and for myself.”
‘No decisions will be made about lions’
A move to France will not prevent him from being selected for the Lions next year, but it is not something he has yet discussed with his father Andy, who will be head coach of the Australia tour.
“Have I talked to my father about this?” added. “If it counted, I said ‘good job’ to him.” [referring to Ireland’s Six Nations title win].
“There is nothing to talk about; Whatever happens happens. There’s no decision to be made about any of this. I guess as the time gets closer, everything will become clear or not. You see how people were at that time. There’s nothing to talk about there right now.”
His focus is now on Saracens and the club’s bid to revive the Premiership title as well as qualify for the Champions Cup, and working under former England head coach Stuart Lancaster at Racing could lead to further success and perhaps inspire an international comeback can give.
“Do you think I’m exhausted?” He added with a smile. “As long as I enjoy it, I want to play for as long as possible. I love playing. That’s always been the case, even in the toughest parts as I mentioned. I loved the game and I loved rugby.
“I want to enjoy it all a bit more. I’m getting back to doing that here at the club, I did that during this time during the Six Nations and I really want to do that towards the end of the year. And I want to get better at it next year too. That way I can give myself the best of it.” “I think I’ll put it out there and do the best I can. We’ll see what happens.”