Maro Itoje, captain of the British & Irish Lions, has expressed his hope that Owen Farrell will rejoin the England squad next season after a two-year break. Farrell is currently with the Lions in Australia, and Itoje believes his return would strengthen the English side.
Now 33, Farrell last represented England at the 2023 World Cup before temporarily stepping away from international rugby to focus on personal and family well-being. However, Itoje, his Saracens teammate, is confident Farrell still has much to offer if he decides to play for England again.
"If he wants to play for England, why not?" said Itoje, who will captain the Lions against the ACT Brumbies on Wednesday. "That would be fantastic if that’s in his plans. A fully fit Owen Farrell improves any team. He’s among the best players England have ever had."
Farrell recently completed his first full training session since joining as a replacement for the injured Elliot Daly, working at inside centre and sharing kicking duties with fly-halves Finn Russell, Fin Smith, and Marcus Smith. His impact has already been noted by former Lions and Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton, who toured Australia with Farrell in 2013 as part of the Lions' winning squad.
"As a fly-half, playing with him at 12 is ideal," Sexton said. "He’s already in sync with the group. He arrived and immediately understood the strategies in place. His training has been sharp."
"Today, he was in the second-unit team, and he broke through our defence several times. It’s clear how much he’ll contribute on this tour."
Sexton believes Farrell’s inclusion was a smart decision ahead of the first Test on 19 July. "How could they leave him out? He’s a top-tier player—one who has led teams to success, not just followed others. His presence here has been excellent, and he’ll bring a lot to the squad."
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