Owen Farrell, the 33-year-old fly-half for Saracens and the British & Irish Lions, has indicated that he is not ruling out a potential return to the England rugby squad. He emphasized that any such decision would depend entirely on his personal well-being and readiness to commit to the demands of international rugby once more.
Following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Farrell opted for a break from his international career, citing the crucial need to prioritize his mental and emotional health. His subsequent brief move to French club Racing 92 was cut short due to a combination of injuries and fitness issues. Upon his return to England, he quickly re-entered the spotlight, first performing for his club, and then earning a call-up to the British & Irish Lions squad for their tour of Australia.
During this tour, the seasoned 33-year-old made an appearance as a substitute in the match against the ANZAC XV. He is now set to achieve another milestone by captaining the Lions for the first time in their upcoming fixture against the Australian and Pacific Indigenous XV.
Farrell states that his current priority is simply to enjoy playing rugby and to remain true to himself, without succumbing to the intense external pressures or criticism, particularly that stemming from social media platforms.
He also noted that age is not a barrier to continuing his illustrious career, citing the example of Johnny Sexton, who played for Ireland until the age of 38. “I feel good and I`m fully focused on what`s happening right now. What comes next, we`ll see,” Farrell concluded, keeping his future options open.
