Rugby News in General

Owen Farrell leaves 'strong legacy' on England, says head coach Steve Borthwick..By Chris Jones, BBC rugby union correspondent.

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Owen Farrell will continue to play for Saracens while on a break from international duty with England

Owen Farrell will leave a "strong legacy" on the England team during the upcoming Six Nations, says head coach Steve Borthwick.

Farrell, who led the side to a third-placed finish at the Rugby World Cup, has taken a break from international rugby.

Courtney Lawes is also unavailable after retiring from England duty.

Borthwick, however, says "without question" he has players to fill the leadership void.

"I think we have a multitude of leaders across the squad," he told BBC Sport.

"I look at how the leaders grew during that World Cup. And I'll be very clear, you need that leadership density, and I think one of the things Owen did really well was having key lieutenants around him.

"What they did, and the experiences they shared [at the World Cup], tells me this is a group that cares so much and wants to drive this team forward.

"I think we have a lot of leaders who will be able to take that on."

Ellis Genge and George Ford are among the current England players with experience of captaining their country, while it is thought Jamie George is also a strong contender to lead the side.

And Borthwick says Farrell's influence will be felt, whoever ends up in charge.

"Owen is not going to be with us during the Six Nations, but his legacy during this Six Nations is going to be strong," Borthwick added.

"The foundations we have been trying to build, the way the environment is and the way the players are of the field, he has been integral within that. And [in terms of] growing leaders and bringing other leaders through, Owen has been magnificent there."

England to offer support in face of 'horrendous' abuse
Borthwick says he is full of "admiration and respect" for Farrell after England's record points scorer decided to make himself unavailable in order to protect his and his family's mental wellbeing.

And the England boss says the Rugby Football Union will be examining how to support players in the face of "horrendous" online abuse.

"To make the decision he has would have taken a lot of courage," Borthwick said.

"We spoke at the end of the World Cup and he shared some of the thoughts, and he wanted some time to go through those thoughts and spend time with his family, and a couple of weeks later he told me his decision to step away, which I fully respect and support.

"But we've also seen there is a wider issue here and we have seen it with two top match officials [Wayne Barnes and Tom Foley]. We are seeing the online hate and abuse that is spread - it's not ok, that people can be able to be saying that stuff, and it can affect people's lives.

"What was seen at that World Cup was horrendous. These people aren't rugby fans, as true rugby fans aren't saying that kind of stuff. These issues are bigger than rugby, [they are] societal.

"We have been spending time looking at this, and thinking how do we ensure we give all the support that is needed.

"This has changed very fast. So what we are doing is ensuring that we are trying to get ahead of it and understand what people need. And not just the players, but the management team, and not just the people directly with the team, it's their families [too]."

New coaching team a 'brilliant blend'
Meanwhile, Borthwick is confident he has assembled a coaching team with a "brilliant blend" of perspectives and experiences.

Felix Jones, the former Ireland wing and double World Cup-winning coach with South Africa, will run England's defence, with Kevin Sinfield moving into a skills role before leaving the set-up in the summer.

Kiwi coach Andrew Strawbridge has also come on board on a temporary basis after two years with the All Blacks. Richard Wigglesworth and Tom Harrison will continue their roles with the attack and scrum respectively.

"You look at this, and you've got guys who understand English rugby, guys who were coaching in the Premiership six months ago," Borthwick said.

"[We have coaches who] understand European rugby, while Felix brings his Irish experience and his experience in the southern hemisphere with South Africa, and Straws brings that New Zealand perspective.

"I think it is a brilliant blend of coaches and expertise in the room. I think it is a real position of strength and I value that diversity of experience a lot."

Former Wales and British Lion rugby player JPR Williams has passed away at 74 years of age ,he won 55 caps for his country ,he you're New Zealand and South Africa earning 8 test caps

Owen Farrell: Jamie George says rumours about team-mate's future a 'shock to everyone'..

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Jamie George says Owen Farrell is "courageous" for stepping away from England duty to prioritise his mental health

Speculation surrounding the future of Owen Farrell has come as a "shock to absolutely everyone", says his Saracens and England team-mate Jamie George.

Fly-half Farrell, 32, has been linked with a move to French side Racing 92 at the end of this season.

The French club have denied having an agreement in place to sign England's record points scorer, who is currently taking a break from Test rugby.

"We don't know whether he's leaving or not," George told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The speculation only broke recently so it came as a shock to absolutely everyone.

"I think Owen's quite a private person generally. Myself and Owen are very close so it's something we probably will have a conversation about but I haven't spoken to him about it yet.

"Ultimately it's his decision, whatever he wants to do, whether he stays or goes.

"I know he's going to be choosing the right thing for him and his family."

Farrell will be unavailable for the upcoming Six Nations, and George is among the candidates to replace him as captain.

Head coach Steve Borthwick is expected to announce his new skipper when he names his squad on 17 January and hooker George says he would be "flattered to be in the conversation".

The 33-year-old added: "I know it's easier said than done but I don't think I'd allow that captaincy position to change my thought process or how much I read into the media and the scrutiny that might come with it.

"I generally try and stay level-headed.

"Obviously I've never been captain of my country before and if that does happen, that is something that I would have to assess.

"But I'm lucky that I've got really good people around me and I'm just flattered to be in the conversation."

'It's an unfortunate part of the job'
Farrell has stepped down from the England fold in order to protect his and his family's mental wellbeing and Borthwick has told the BBC the Rugby Football Union will be examining how to support players in the face of "horrendous" online abuse.

George says Farrell has been "courageous" in wanting to prioritise his mental health.

"We all have to deal with it and it's an unfortunate part of the job," said George.

"I try my best not to read too much. I certainly stay off Twitter [now known as X] and don't read too much of the media, and I think that's served me pretty well.

"My message to everyone having been through it with Owen recently is that we're human beings. We make mistakes and it's not overly beneficial writing negative things about people online, and we really hope we can see a change with that.

"I think it's been incredibly courageous from Owen to step away from international rugby to put his mental health first and hopefully that's a sign to people that we are human beings, we do have families and it can be very very hurtful."

Rugby Football Union to implement longer bans for players and coaches abusing referees..By Sara Orchard, BBC Sport.

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Wayne Barnes (right) retired soon after taking charge of South Africa's win over New Zealand in the World Cup final in Paris in October

Players and coaches abusing referees in England will face longer suspensions as the Rugby Football Union tries to stop more match officials leaving the game.

The RFU has acted after a survey showed 49% of referees had been "abused or disrespected" last season.

It said that number was "unacceptable" and "undoubtedly impacting" on recruitment and retention of officials.

World Cup final referee Wayne Barnes cited "vile" social media abuse as a catalyst for his retirement last year.

His fellow Englishman Tom Foley announced he was taking a break from the game a month later, following a "torrent of abuse".

The RFU said the new punishments were "aggravated sanctions".

Fines, letters of apology and refereeing courses will still be available to disciplinary panels as they consider judgments.

Last season, former Exeter wing Jack Nowell was fined £10,000 and ordered to attend a refereeing course for criticising a referee on X - formerly known as Twitter.

Anyone found guilty at any level of the game in England will have a minimum addition of two, three or four weeks added to their punishment depending on the entry level of their offence - low-end, mid-range or top-end.

Match official abuse (MOA) is split into five categories: dissent, verbal abuse, using threatening words or actions, making physical contact with a match official, and physical abuse of a match official.

The new punishments came into effect on 1st January.

Andy Farrell: New Lions coach confident Ireland will be in safe hands during his sabbatical..

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Farrell will miss the 2025 Six Nations with Ireland while he prepares for the Lions' tour of Australia

Andy Farrell says he will have no qualms leaving Ireland in the hands of his coaching staff when he takes his sabbatical to begin his new role as the British and Irish Lions head coach.

Farrell was confirmed as the Lions boss for the 2025 tour of Australia at a news conference on Thursday.

It means Farrell will step away from the Irish team in December until the tour concludes in August 2025.

However, the Englishman is confident Ireland can thrive in his absence.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: "First and foremost, we have a tremendous, experienced and very talented coaching staff and backroom staff that have been through a lot together, certainly over the last four years and before that.

"Some of the experiences we've had of people being able to take responsibility and being able to be trusted, it gets us to the point where we're able to put ourselves in this position.

"And not just that - for what's coming now in the Six Nations and the tour to South Africa and then having the big guns coming to the Aviva [Stadium] in the autumn as well."

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Farrell says he trusts his Ireland coaching staff to maintain the team's high standards during his Lions sabbatical

As for his own coaching ticket, the 48-year-old says he has not approached anyone and will take his time before assembling his Lions backroom team.

"The right thing to do is to take my time with that to make sure I have the right conversations," added Farrell, who was named World Rugby's coach of the year in October.

"Also to make sure I'm able to step back and see people grow. There are always changes to coaching staff within seasons. Some people have new roles, some people have just started a role and need time to grow in that.

"Some people will have the opportunity to put themselves under extreme pressure and we'll see how people deal with that.

"Having the space to be able to have the conversations so that you get the right people on the plane is super important because making sure that they're the right coaching staff for the players is a job I have to get right."

Farrell will be back in Ireland for his first match in charge of the Lions against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on 20 June 2025, which will be the Lions' first fixture on Irish soil.

The Tests against the Wallabies will be on 19th July, 26th July and 2nd August 2025.

Owen Farrell: Racing 92 coach Stuart Lancaster confirms interest in signing Saracens fly-half..

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Owen Farrell has spent his entire career with Saracens after making his senior debut as a 17-year-old in 2008

Racing 92 head coach Stuart Lancaster has confirmed his interest in signing Saracens and England fly-half Owen Farrell for next season.

Last week the French club released a statement denying reports an agreement to sign the fly-half had been reached.

Farrell, 32, ruled himself out of this year's Six Nations to prioritise his and his family's mental wellbeing.

"He would be a great signing. Who wouldn't want a player like Owen Farrell?" Lancaster said.

"We'll see how it plays out. No deal has been done, there is no confirmation of anything for next year.

"It'll be me [who has the final say on signings]."

The 32-year-old started on Sunday in Saracens' 55-15 defeat by Bordeaux Begles, who are second in the Top 14 behind Racing.

Lancaster, who coached England from 2011-2015, gave Farrell his first of 112 caps, against Scotland in 2012.

"Racing are often linked with key players and I'm lucky my relationships with players from England and Ireland are all part of that, but we'll see," he said after his side's defeat by Bath in the Investec Champions Cup.

"I have signed for four years and what I'm trying to do is build a team that can win this year and a team that's going to be really competitive over the next couple of years as well."

Lancaster's side have been on the lookout for a star name at fly-half after Scotland's Finn Russell left to join Bath last summer.

He has already signed England wing Henry Arundell and South Africa's double World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi.

The former England coach, who enjoyed a successful spell at Leinster, joined Racing this season.

Owen Farrell: Racing 92 announce signing of England and Saracens fly-half..

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Owen Farrell won his sixth Premiership title with Saracens last May and his first as club captain

Racing 92 have announced the signing of England and Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell at the end of the season.

The French Top 14 side said Farrell has signed a two-year deal starting on 1st July.

The 32-year-old Saracens captain has spent his whole career at the StoneX Stadium having made his debut aged 17.

In November he announced he was taking a break from international rugby to "prioritise his mental wellbeing" and stepped down as England captain.

Saracens team-mate Jamie George, 33, will lead England in the forthcoming Six Nations.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) does not allow players based abroad to be selected for England.

Capped 112 times by his country, Farrell's move to France all-but prevents him playing for England again unless the eligibility rules are relaxed, something which head coach Steve Borthwick wants to happen.

Farrell has won three Six Nations titles with England, including a Grand Slam in 2016, and was part of the team who lost to South Africa in the 2019 World Cup final.

He will link up at Racing 92 with former England head coach Stuart Lancaster, who gave him his international debut against Scotland in the 2012 Six Nations.

Farrell has made more than 200 appearances for Saracens in all competitions, winning six Premiership titles and three European Rugby Champions Cups.

He made his first-team debut for the north London club in 2008 and became English professional rugby's then youngest ever player.

The number 10 also stayed with the team through the 2020-21 season when the club was relegated to the Championship because of salary cap breaches and made captain of the side in 2021.

Last May he kicked 13 points as he led Saracens to his sixth Premiership title at Twickenham.

In 2016, Farrell also kicked all 21 points as Saracens won their first European title against Racing 92, and was part of the sides that lifted the trophy in 2017 and 2019 too.

This season, Farrell has played nine times for Sarries in all competitions after leading England to the semi-final of the 2023 World Cup in France, where they suffered a heartbreaking 16-15 loss against South Africa.

Premiership: Saracens 40-22 Exeter Chiefs - Owen Farrell kicks 15 points in first game since Racing 92 news..

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Owen Farrell's drop goal from 40 metres in the second half helped Saracens pull away from Exeter Chiefs

Owen Farrell kicked 15 points as he led Saracens to a 40-22 win over Exeter Chiefs in his first game since his move to Racing 92 was announced.

The sides were level 15-15 at the break as tries from James Hadfield and Ivan van Zyl were matched by scores from Chiefs' Olly Woodburn and Greg Fisilau.

Exeter's Rus Tuima ended a wonderful move for one of the tries of the season to bring the scores to 22-22.

But a Farrell penalty and drop-goal, and a second Hadfield try sealed the win.

Theo McFarland wrapped it up in stoppage time after Farrell's kick into the in-goal area was mistimed by Ben Hammersley and the forward dotted down.

The bonus-point win for Saracens moves them a point above Exeter into fourth place in the Premiership, eight points off leaders Northampton Saints and a point behind Harlequins and Bath.