Owen Farrell, who recently finished serving a three-week ban for a dangerous tackle, has stated that he wants England to set an example for safety in rugby.
Despite the ban, which was initially for four weeks, he will be available to play in England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 4.
This is because he agreed to participate in World Rugby’s coaching intervention program, which resulted in a reduction of his ban.
“What it does do, you look at what you could do better from the situation you were in in the first place and I’ve obviously had time to step back and have a look at that and learn from it,” Farrell said at the Six Nations launch event in London.
“In terms of where the game is going and trying to make the game safer and making sure that it is played in a correct way and a good example for everyone, the game and the RFU are trying to make sure that it is going in the right direction,” continued Farrell.
“We as a team, as an England team, want to make sure we are at the forefront of that, we want to make sure that we are preparing in a way that we can play as hard as we possibly can and make sure it is as fair and as safe as we possibly can as well. I want to play a big part in that.”
Head coach Steve Borthwick added: “We’re trying to address keeping the physical intensity of this game, and make sure it’s a safe sport for generations to come. I think that it’s great we’re trying to do that,.
“Some of the tutorials for that course were led by Kevin Sinfield, who is coaching our defence. In the England rugby team we want to show fight, play physically but also, we want to be fair.”
Owen Farrell facts:
The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.
An incredible XI of rugby players who played for professional football academie
More rugby stars than you think almost had a career in football, including the current England Captain Owen Farrell. Check out who else makes our stunning XI.
GOALKEEPER:
Owen Farrell (Manchester United): The England captain trained with the Manchester United youth team as a goalkeeper. Modestly, he insists he would never have made the grade and that his passion was always rugby league. But Farrell’s trial was cut short when his family moved south – and he left both sports behind for rugby union.
CENTRE-BACKS:
Ben & Tom Curry (Manchester City): It is true that they had a trial at Manchester City, who the twins support, but that was scuppered by Tom scoring an own goal. Probably for the best in the end.
Toby Flood (Newcastle United): After two years at the club he was released by academy director John Carver in the 90s. They were reunited almost 15 years later when Flood was playing at St James park with the Falcons and Carver was manager of the toon army.