Owen Farrell’s much-rumoured move to Racing 92 has been confirmed, ending his 15-year career at English champions Saracens.
Farrell, 32, captained England in their most recent game at the end of a five-year stint as his country’s skipper.
But his move to Paris will extend his planned international break – announced in November – that was already set to last at least until this summer, with England still retaining a policy of not picking foreign-based players that began in the lead up to Farrell’s debut in early 2012.
Instead of heading to Japan and New Zealand with England in the summer Farrell will be spending his summer in pre-season for the French Top 14’s league leaders, where he will join international stars such as Siya Kolisi, Gael Fickou and Henry Arundell – with the latter also on a hiatus from England for the same reason.
He has signed a two year deal, beginning in July this year, and is reported to be earning £1 million.
In less than three weeks, Farrell’s move to Racing has gone from being completely unknown to confirmed.
One of two marquee players at Saracens, it had been expected that his teammate Maro Itoje was more likely to move elsewhere, with one of the duo having to either take a pay cut or leave as Premiership rules have changed to only allow one player to be exempt from the salary cap.
Though Farrell’s announcement of his international hiatus suggested he was somewhat unsettled, it seemed it was more a reaction to a rollercoaster 2023 where he had faced criticism for high tackles that had seen him banned, and become associated with an England style of play that had many vocal critics.
But that initial decision looks now to be the first step to what might well be the end of an England career that has seen Farrell earn 112 caps, win a Six Nations Grand Slam among three titles, take home a World Cup silver and bronze medal and end with a record tally of points for his country (1,237) after he overtook Jonny Wilkinson in October.
Making his debut in 2008, Farrell has been even more prolific for his long-time club Saracens. Since first appearing for the club just 11 days after his 17th birthday Farrell has run out for the Londoners 246 times and scored a mammoth 2,779 points, with an over 75 per cent win ratio that has seen him win six Premierships, three Champions Cups and a Championship title.
He will hope to finish his career with the club on a high, after the club qualified for the Champions Cup last 16 on Saturday and are still well-placed to challenge for the play-offs domestically.
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