Farrell opens up on rocky Racing 92 stint
SPOTLIGHT: England flyhalf Owen Farrell has spoken about his short stint at French club Racing 92.
Owen Farrell said Tuesday that he does not regret his move to France even though he ended up spending just one disappointing, injury-hit season with Racing 92 before returning to Saracens.
The former England captain ended his 16-year stay with the English Premiership side at the end of the 2023/24 season, having made more than 250 appearances.
But the 33-year-old flyhalf has now rejoined Saracens on a two-year deal, returning to the club where he won three European Cups and six Premiership crowns.
“I don’t regret going. I don’t regret doing it,” Farrell told Sky Sports, referring to his move to France.
“Even though it was disappointing how much I played, and how fit I was when I did play at times, I still don’t regret doing it.
“Even though it was disappointing, the season that we had and the injuries that came with that, I still don’t see it as a negative that I have come through it.”
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Farrell joined the Top 14 club in a blaze of publicity last year on a two-year deal, with local media reporting that he was earning 800,000 Euros a year.
But poor form and a series of injuries restricted him to just 17 appearances in all competitions.
In February, Racing owner Jacky Lorenzetti likened him to “a snail going backwards” and it was no surprise that he was left out of the British and Irish Lions squad, coached by his father, Andy Farrell, for their upcoming tour of Australia.
Farrell admitted it had been tough dealing with injuries and adjusting to a new club.
“It was a difficult year injury-wise, then trying to bed into a new place and not feeling like you are able to give the best of yourself and not really getting going,” he said.
“All the years are precious now and hopefully the best for everyone was that I was here next year.”
Farrell, who made his Saracens debut in 2008 at the age of 17, has won 112 England caps and made six Test appearances for the Lions.
He has not played Test rugby since the 2023 World Cup, initially taking a break to prioritise his mental wellbeing, before his move abroad made him ineligible for selection.
