Owen Farrell still has the capacity to move the dial in English rugby judging by the hyperventilation caused by the story he wants out of Racing 92.
Farrell’s season in Paris may have been a disaster but it has done little to diminish the interest around him. The prospect of a return to the Premiership and – drumroll – possibly England has created a mini-tornado of speculation.
First things first, it would be great news for the league if Farrell returned. There are few competitors around of his ilk.
As long as he coaxes his 33-year-old body into behaving itself again – as it has failed to do in France – he can still make a significant impression as a Premiership player next season.
Although Leicester – desperate for a stand-off with Handre Pollard leaving – and Bristol – with AJ MacGinty now 35 – have been touted as alternative landing pads, you naturally picture him back in Saracens colours.
There is a £400,000-sized stumbling block. As things stand Sarries would need to buy Farrell out of the last year of his contract at Racing. But the club’s president Jacky Lorenzetti may decide he is better off not fighting too hard to keep an unhappy player – particularly one who has contributed so little in his solitary season.
The lack of value he has supplied will be a huge source of frustration to Farrell. His natural inclination would ordinarily have been to stick it out and show the club and the Top 14 his worth. Farrell is, instinctively, a loyalist as 16 years at Saracens proved. So for him to be contemplating an early departure shows what a poor experience he has endured at Racing.
With the coach who lured him to France, Stuart Lancaster, axed mid-season, and the team underperforming for much of the campaign in his injury-enforced absence, Farrell has clearly decided he does not want to waste any more of his remaining time pushing a boulder uphill.
With the coach who lured him to France, Stuart Lancaster, axed mid-season, and the team underperforming for much of the campaign in his injury-enforced absence, Farrell has clearly decided he does not want to waste any more of his remaining time pushing a boulder uphill.
There are other clubs in France better placed financially to take Farrell if he is offloaded. No doubt there will be Japanese interest too. So if he returns to England, it will not be for the money.
There are two other potential drivers – country and coaching.
Is there still an itch to be scratched with England? A desire to rewrite the final chapter? A succession of England coaches loved him with a passion – from Stuart Lancaster to Steve Borthwick and with Eddie Jones in between. His reliability in implementing a game plan, his leadership, his physicality and his goalkicking made for an irresistible package.
Yet it was never quite the same with those in the stands and his relationship with elements of the England support had deteriorated to open hostility by the end of his international career.
Farrell won his 112th and last cap for his country in the third-place play-off against Argentina at the 2023 World Cup, a tournament at which he was booed by some of England’s own fans.
It was the same tournament at which he had become England’s record points scorer.
As thankyous for his service went, it was some way short of a gold watch.
Maybe he has had his fill of England because of that. Maybe he would rather steer clear. But when Farrell walked away from the international game 18 months ago to protect his mental health and that of his family, he never actually retired from it.
He has played in one World Cup final and lost it. Might he still have an eye on one more in Australia in 2027? To go out the hero rather than the villain? If he has that thought in his head, he would be wise to let it go.
He has played in one World Cup final and lost it. Might he still have an eye on one more in Australia in 2027? To go out the hero rather than the villain? If he has that thought in his head, he would be wise to let it go.
England have moved on. Fin Smith, the current holder of the number 10 jersey is a decade younger. Borthwick has two other stand-offs – Marcus Smith and George Ford – on enhanced Elite Player Squad contracts.
Farrell is Farrell. He is a ferociously determined individual. But even he cannot beat the clock and 36 when the next World Cup comes around, he would be too old.
A fourth Lions tour this summer remains a possibility, however, as a candidate for one of the two additional player spots which have been left open. You get the impression the Lions management is hoping against hope Farrell can show some form in Racing’s two remaining Top 14 matches. Even if his dad Andy, the head coach, is duty-bound to play a straight bat then Johnny Sexton will be swinging for him.
If he can haul himself onto the plane and make Australia this summer then that would make for an appropriate farewell to the international arena. There would be no catcalling from the sea of red Down Under, guaranteed.
The other incentive for Farrell to return to England is the more realistic one. To take a step onto the coaching ladder at a Premiership club.
It almost feels as if his entire playing career has been a preparation for the switch given the influence he has brought to bear on the sides he has played for. Rather like with Ford, a team with Farrell in it almost has an extra coach out on the field with them. Saracens know that better than anyone given his 256 appearances for the club – and they like to promote their own.
There has been talk of an official player-coach role at the StoneX being carved out for Farrell but Mark McCall, the club’s director of rugby, made it clear on Tuesday he is no fan of that type of hybrid arrangement.
“It’s tough to do that. Richard Wigglesworth might have done a little bit at Leicester but he’s the only one I can think of who has tried it. I wouldn’t be so keen on that,” he said.
Instead, what is more likely is a playing role that carries with it the promise of a coaching job at the end of it.
McCall is in no doubt that is what Farrell will end doing once his playing days are done.
“I’d be very surprised if he didn’t come into coaching,” he said. “Rugby is in his skin, he’s got a great IQ, he’s got a passion for it and a love for it like his dad had as well. I’d be absolutely amazed if that wasn’t what he wanted to do.”
Some irony if Sarries of all clubs can't afford to buy out his contract.