Owen Farrell Linked with Premiership Return After Difficult Spell in France

Wednesday, 19 March 2025 at 07:57

byRugby Rucker

Leicester Tigers have reportedly made a move to bring former England captain Owen Farrell back to the Gallagher Premiership, less than a year after his much-anticipated switch to Racing 92.

According to RugbyPass, the Tigers are in the market for a marquee playmaker ahead of next season and made an enquiry about bringing Farrell back to English rugby.

However, the 33-year-old, who left Saracens at the end of last season, is said to have rebuffed their advances, opting to see out his contract in France.

Farrell is one of the most decorated players of the professional era, boasting six Premiership titles, three European crowns, and a Grand Slam, alongside a World Cup final appearance in 2019.

The son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, he was also crowned European Player of the Year in 2017.

With Racing currently struggling in ninth place in the Top 14 and recently parting ways with Stuart Lancaster, speculation has grown over Farrell’s future in Paris. But for now, it seems he remains committed to his French adventure.

Arundell joins Bath:

One England star who is departing Paris is Henry Arundell. One of England’s most electrifying young backs has agreed to join Bath on a three-year contract.

The 22-year-old, who has 10 England caps and seven international tries—including five in one game against Chile at the 2023 World Cup—returns to his childhood home, having grown up in Bath.

Arundell burst onto the scene with London Irish before moving to Racing 92 after the club’s collapse, scoring 13 tries in 30 appearances for the French giants.

“Joining Bath is incredibly special for me and my family,” Arundell said. “We’ve been Bath fans for generations, and I spent years in the stands supporting the team. Now, to wear the jersey myself is a dream come true. This team is in a fantastic place, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”

2025 British & Irish Lions Squad: Bookies’ Predictions for the Tour

With the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia fast approaching, the bookmakers have released their early odds on who will make the squad.

While a lot can change between now and the final selection, these odds give a strong indication of who the bookies believe will be donning the famous red jersey next summer.

The bolded players in our proposed Lions squad represent the starting XV, according to current odds.

2025 BRITISH & IRISH LIONS SQUAD (36)

BACK-THREE (6)

Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland) - 1/16
James Lowe (Ireland) - 1/8
Hugo Keenan (Ireland) - 1/5
Tommy Freeman (England) - 4/9
Blair Kinghorn (Scotland) - 8/11
Darcy Graham (Scotland) - 2/1

CENTRE (4)

Bundee Aki (Ireland) - 1/5
Ollie Lawrence (England) - 1/4
Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland) - 2/7
Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) - 8/11

FLY-HALVES (3)

Fin Russell (Scotland) - 1/10
Fin Smith (England) - 8/15
Sam Prendergast (Ireland) - 8/11

SCRUM-HALVES (3)

Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland) - 8/11
Alex Mitchell (England) - 11/10
Ben White (Scotland) - 11/10

PROP (3)

Tadhg Furlong (Ireland) - 1/8
Andrew Porter (Ireland) - 1/7
Zander Fagerson (Scotland) - 4/11
Ellis Genge (England) - 4/6
Fin Baxter (England) - 5/6
Pierre Schoeman (Scotland) - 5/4

HOOKER (3)

Dan Sheehan (Ireland) - 1/10
Jamie George (England) - 8/15
Luke Cowan-Dickie (England) - 6/5

LOCK (5)

Maro Itoje (England) - 1/33
Tadhg Beirne (Ireland) - 1/10
Joe McCarthy (Ireland) - 4/6
Ollie Chessum (England) - 8/11
George Martin (England) - 11/10

BACK-ROW (6)

Caelan Doris (Ireland) - 1/5
Ben Earl (England) - 1/5
Josh van der Flier (Ireland) - 1/3
Tom Curry (England) - 8/15
Jack Morgan (Wales) - 4/6
Ben Curry (England) - 6/4

Can you name every England Rugby captain of the professional era?

From the early days of professionalism to the modern era, England has seen a host of legendary captains wearing the armband.

Whether it's the grit of Will Carling in the 90s, the tactical brilliance of Martin Johnson, or the fearless leadership of Owen Farrell, this quiz will challenge even the most dedicated fans.

Think you can name them all? Grab your boots and let's see how well you know the men who led England into battle on the world stage!

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