Andy Farrell addresses the elephant in the room
REACTION: British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell said Owen Farrell could still feature in the upcoming tour of Australia despite omitting his son from the 38-man squad announced Thursday.
Owen Farrell, who last played international rugby at the 2023 World Cup, is now barred from representing England after deciding to play his club rugby outside of the country at Paris-based Racing 92.
Farrell Junior, a former England captain, has suffered an injury-hit debut season in France and has been inconsistent when fit.
But the 33-year-old flyhalf, a three-time Lions tourist, is a proven international performer.
He could still take part in a tour that includes three Tests against the Wallabies, were any of the selected No. 10s – Scotland’s Finn Russell and the England duo of Fin Smith and Marcus Smith – to suffer an injury.
Owen Farrell has also played international rugby union as a centre.
“There are 38 picked, which leaves a couple of slots open for us down the track if and when needed,” said Andy Farrell after the Lions squad was unveiled at London’s O2 Arena.
“Owen would be in that bracket,” added Farrell, himself a former England international who has been seconded from his day job as Ireland coach to take charge of the Lions.
Reflecting on the work of selecting a Lions squad, he said: “I’m pretty chilled actually. My job is done. I’m delighted to get to this stage, there has been a lot of work in the background with the planning.
“Now we get to the point of the real stuff – the rugby.”
Andy Farrell has chosen Maro Itoje as his Lions captain.
The 30-year-old lock, twice a previous Lions tourist, only succeeded Saracens team-mate Jamie George as England skipper ahead of this season’s Six Nations but guided the Red Rose brigade to a creditable four wins out of five and a second-placed finish behind champions France.
Farrell, explaining his decision to appoint Itoje, said: “The captain is the beacon, the leader, the person everyone looks up to, not only because he’s outstanding at his profession but because of how he makes people feel, how he cares, how he allows others to be leaders within the group.
“Tours like this test the best of your leadership, so it takes a special person.”
The 10-match Lions tour begins with a fixture against Argentina in Dublin on June 20.
The first Test with Australia will be in Brisbane on July 19, with two more internationals against the Wallabies in Melbourne (July 26) and Sydney (August 2).
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