Owen Farrell’s big move to Racing 92 was finally confirmed on Monday, but the motivation behind it will depend on whose perspective you seek.
A much-deserved new life adventure, a break from the boo-boys or a stage-managed Test rugby exit, to some extent, to suit all parties? Different people with different skin in the game will argue each one of the three, but Farrell quitting Saracens and England this summer most probably represents a combination of all these reasonings.
Farrell has been characterised as feeling unappreciated and undervalued in the wake of being booed at the World Cup. And who can blame the 32-year-old, who became England’s record points-scorer and led the Red Rose men to a third-place finish? If all those achievements merit booing, then Farrell would doubtless love to find out what would justify some cheers.
In Paris, though, at the city’s most moneyed elite club, Farrell is viewed in an entirely different light.
The line of royal succession at Racing shows exactly how highly the French club, and the rugby world, too, rates the former England skipper. Farrell will follow previous fly-halves Johnny Sexton, Dan Carter and Finn Russell in adding another storied tale to their famous No10 shirt.
England do not begrudge Farrell his move one jot, even though head coach Steve Borthwick has lamented his impending departure. When Farrell’s break from Test rugby was announced, it was explained as in order to protect his and his family’s mental well-being. Behind the scenes, others will claim this also later provided a buffer for Farrell, Racing and Saracens to keep thrashing out terms on a complicated deal.
That train of thought continues with the idea that the RFU needed space, too, to push along further their plans for the incoming Elite Player Squad contracts. Those hybrid deals will see as many as 25 players earn up to £150,000 a year to play for England, in a flat fee replacing individual Test payments.
Borthwick said recently he had not tried to dissuade Farrell from his break from Test rugby when the pair spoke at the end of the World Cup. On a walk in Paris, Borthwick said Farrell told him of his plans, and the reasons why.
Both Borthwick and Saracens boss Mark McCall have hit out at online trolls and fan treatment of Farrell, and rightly so, but sources from other directions point to those early discussions also harbouring the wider implications of what now has become this longer-term move to Paris.
Farrell’s two-year deal would still, just about, leave room for him to return to England and bid for a Test return in time for the 2027 World Cup. Again, depending on who you talk to, though, Farrell could have the option of a third year in France, which, if he were to take it, would all-but end his England career on 112 caps.
Farrell will still be available for selection for next year’s Lions tour to Australia, led by his father, Andy. His commitments in France will complicate the necessary release times, but then his new boss in Paris is his old England coach, Stuart Lancaster.
Lancaster has vowed not to thwart the Test ambitions of Racing’s foreign legion where possible and will doubtless adopt the same attitude to the Lions for Farrell.
What is not in doubt is that Farrell is right to look to his own future, whatever the backdrop or the end-game.
