The Stuart Lancaster verdict on Owen Farrell’s Lions tour chances

Stuart Lancaster has given his take on whether being based in France will make Owen Farrell unavailable for selection on the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia. The 32-year-old England Rugby World Cup captain has currently ruled himself out of selection for his country until the summer of 2026 at the earliest.

Having originally taken a sabbatical from Test rugby for the duration of the upcoming 2024 Guinness Six Nations, Farrell has since made himself ineligible for England selection for the next two years as he has signed to play for Racing 92 in the Top 14.

While England only select Gallagher Premiership-based players for their Test teams, Farrell’s move to France won’t make him unavailable for potential selection in the British and Irish Lions squad that will be coached by his father Andy, the current Ireland coach.

Stuart Lancaster discusses Owen Farrell’s move to Racing 92

Stuart Lancaster discusses Owen Farrell’s move to Racing 92

Instead, the complication is the later ending to the domestic season that happens in France every year compared to other leagues.

To help tour preparations, the Premiership and URC have scheduled their respective 2025 finals for June 14, six days before the Lions play their pre-departure match versus Argentina in Dublin ahead of their opening game in Australia on June 28.

However, Racing’s potential involvement in the Top 14 playoffs would keep Farrell busy in France with the Lions tour getting underway. Is that a situation that would count against the out-half getting picked to tour?

“It’s up to the Lions committee or whoever makes these decisions for the Lions,” reckoned Lancaster, the former England coach who is midway through his first season in charge at Racing.

“On a Lions tour, you are always getting players brought in any way during the tour. It’s not like you set off on the tour with a group of players and the same group of players finish.

“I remember in 2013 the likes of Brad Barritt, Christian Wade, the guys get called up so if a player happens not to be available for the first game but then he is available for the rest of the tour and you are a good player, then why wouldn’t the Lions want to pick them?”

Farrell toured with the Lions on their three most recent trips, getting chosen by Warren Gatland for Australia 2013, New Zealand 2017 and South Africa 2021.