Racing 92 have confirmed the signing of Owen Farrell on a two-year contract after the former England captain stepped away from international rugby.
RUCK’s 2024 Guinness Six Nations content
England international Farrell, who is currently taking a break from Test rugby for mental health reasons, had been in talks with the six-time French champions over a move to the Top 14 when his current contract with Saracens expires at the end of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season.
In a statement posted on the club's website last month, Racing confirmed Farrell will be joining them from July 1 on a two-year deal.
The 32-year-old has won 112 caps for England and served as captain during the 2018 summer Test series in South Africa before being officially appointed as Dylan Hartley's successor for the following year's Six Nations.
He opted to step away from the international game in the wake of England's third-place finish at last year's Rugby World Cup, and his decision to move to France means Farrell will be ineligible to play for the national team due to RFU regulations which, at present, do not permit head coach Steve Borthwick to select players based abroad.
On Steve Borthwick:
Farrell said: "Steve is someone I've known a long time. He's a great coach and I think things will just go from strength to strength with him in charge."
On Eddie Jones:
Farrell said: "Eddie had been a big part of England rugby for a long time and he has been one of the best coaches I have ever had so, for that, I’m massively thankful,"
Isuzu Scratch-Card Game:
If you don't win, don't worry - you get 2 chances to win every day! Have another attempt by simply answering a quick question following your first unsuccessful scratch.
Don't forget to come back every day to try and win big!
Retiring Wayne Barnes ranks the worst rugby players to referee
#5. Joe Marler (England)
Barnes said: “Marler is one of my favourite players to have refereed. He made me smile before, during and after a match.
“He once got hold of my number in the lead up to a Quins match that I was refereeing and he sent me a WhatsApp message during the week explaining, in Joe’s unique way, how delighted he was that I would be refereeing. There was a shared smile in the changing room when I started my front-row chat an hour before the game.
“However, I wouldn’t speak to him during the match as I had learnt from previous occasions refereeing him that getting into a conversation would often distract me.
“I’d therefore tell him that he wasn’t allowed to speak to me and designate an assistant referee he was allowed to speak with. ‘You can’t speak with me tonight, Joe, but you can speak with Dixy’. Paul Dix not only worked with me as an assistant referee throughout my Premiership career, but he could talk the hind legs of a donkey too.”
Joe Marler facts:
- Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees
- After joining the Quins academy in 2008, the prop spent some time on loan to Esher and Worthing
- He’s been nicknamed Croissant. In his own words, it’s because: “The boys think I have a nose that looks like a French pastry.”
- Marler was captain for England at U18s level and represented the U20 squad throughout the Junior World Championship in summer 2009
- He is also one of the hosts of The Joe Marler Show podcast with Tom Fordyce
#4. Matt Dawson (England)
During his international career he toured with the British & Irish Lions three times and was part of England's 2003 Rugby World Cup winning side. He won 77 caps for his country in total.
BARNES SAID: "Scrum-halves are always the worst, especially Matt."
#3. Martin Johnson (England)
The lock will always be remembered as the man presented with the 2003 World Cup, which England won in Sydney. As well as being an inspirational leader, the Leicester lock was also a formidable player in his own right. A rock like presence in the tight, whose rugby motto was if in doubt, go forward.
BARNES SAID: “I was always petrified of Martin Johnson because he was coming to the end of his career when I started in the Premiership." said Barnes.
“2003 was my first [season] and obviously that was towards the end of his career and I remember I had to sin-bin him once and I actually apologised as I did it.
“I said ‘I’m very sorry I have to do this’ because he’s such a big personality. I guess he was always someone who scared me witless!”
Martin Johnson facts:
- Johnson comes from a sporting family. His great-grandfather was a wrestler. His younger brother Will is also a former back row forward for Leicester.
- He briefly played American football for the Leicester Panthers as a tight end or defensive end.
- Johnson was selected for the New Zealand under-21 side which went on a tour of Australia playing a side that included another of the all-time great lock forwards, John Eales.
- His first job wa working in a nuts and bolts factory as a schoolboy
#2. Andy Goode (England)
BARNES SAID: "He always made me smile as he made me look athletic when we were on the same pitch. However, the humorous players always keep you on your toes and if they get opportunity to pick you up on a slight faux pas, they will.
"I once mentioned to Andy Goode that him and his team mates were all appealing for far too many decisions and told him that it sounded like there were 15 referees on the pitch. “And you’re not even in the top 10” was his reply."
DID YOU KNOW? Goode had an 18-year professional career playing over 400 games and scoring over 4,000 points
#1. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Lifting the 2011 World Cup in his backyard was a fitting tribute to one of the greatest ever All Blacks, but he went on to secure true legendary status as he continued for four more years, breaking record after record and uniquely hoisting the Webb Ellis trophy for a second time.
BARNES SAID: "I’ve been on the field with some of the great captains, John Smit, Sam Warburton and Richie McCaw," said Barnes.
"Richie always had the knack of asking the right question at the right time, sometimes it felt like I was losing a little bit of control.
"Contrary to popular belief, he didn’t talk a lot on the field. He knew the law book inside out and so when he asked a question, he often had a point."
Richie McCaw facts:
- McCaw’s great-great-grandfather immigrated to New Zealand from the Scottish Borders in 1893. As tribute to his roots, the legendary All Black has learned how to play the bagpipes
- He has won the World Rugby player of the year award a joint record three times and was the most capped test rugby player of all time from August 2015 to October 2020
- McCaw was awarded World Rugby player of the decade (2011–2020) in 2021
- It was revealed at his retirement announcement in 2015 that McCaw would work at Christchurch Helicopters, where he is a Director and Shareholder, and was obtaining a commercial helicopter licence
- In December 2011, then Prime Minister John Key revealed that he had asked McCaw about the possibility of a knighthood in the 2012 New Year Honours, but that McCaw had turned it down
