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Owen Farrell set to return for an increasingly desperate Racing 92
By Ian Cameron
Owen Farrell has been named in Racing 92’s squad for their crucial Top 14 trip to Clermont on Saturday, with head coach Patrice Collazo claiming the England fly-half is of huge importance in the club’s battle to avoid relegation.
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Having recovered from an adductor injury, the 33-year-old returns after missing the last six rounds of the French championship.
Collazo confirmed Farrell’s availability during his pre-match press conference on Friday, saying the former England captain was among those who “have already joined the squad.”
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Farrell resumed training last week after taking part in Racing’s Cap Ferret training camp earlier this month.
His comeback comes at a critical time for Racing. They sit 12th in the Top 14 table on 31 points, just one clear of Perpignan in the play-off spot and three ahead of Vannes in the relegation zone.
A marquee signing last summer, Farrell underwent surgery in November after being sidelined by pubalgia. He returned briefly in January, only to suffer a recurrence during Racing’s 27-20 defeat to Castres.
“He brings all his experience,” said Antoine Gibert, who is set to start at fly-half against Clermont. “He is known for being very aggressive, very competitive with great leadership and he brings all of that on a daily basis, even when he is not playing.”
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“He attended every match, every video session to help the team as much as possible, and it’s good to have him back,” added Gibert, calling Farrell “a major asset in this fight for survival.”
Farrell will now aim to help Racing course-correct following a turbulent season in France.
Though he has started ten matches, the England international has spent considerable time sidelined through injury and has watched as the big-spending Parisians slid down the Top 14 table. Their struggles ultimately led to head coach Stuart Lancaster departing earlier this year.
Despite Racing’s poor form, Farrell is understood to be committed to seeing out his two-year contract, which runs until the end of the 2025/26 season.
That position may yet shift should Racing drop to Pro D2.
Remarkably, Farrell remains in contention for a place in several pundits’ British & Irish Lions XVs, despite limited game time and his club’s struggles.
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Former Springbok and Saracens teammate Schalk Burger selected him a theoretical Lions XV, as did former Wallabies scrum-half Nick Phipps.
