[Sport] Saracens face ‘a very big loss’ if Farrell opts to join Racing 92, says George

[7aMoDi]

Teammate says captain has given ‘so much to the game’ Ireland’s Mack Hansen ruled out of Six Nations

Owen Farrell would be unavailable for England selection if he makes the move to Racing 92. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

 

Owen Farrell’s service to English rugby has given him the right to leave Saracens on his own terms, according to Jamie George. Farrell has held talks with Racing 92 over a move to the Top 14 leaders at the end of the season in a shock development that has comeafter his decision to miss the Six Nations in order to prioritise his mental wellbeing.

By departing for Paris, the nation’s record point-scorer, talisman and veteran of 112 caps would become ineligible for selection by Steve Borthwick. George is a leading candidate to replace the 32-year-old as England captain and, while he hopes his long-term teammate stays at Saracens, he insists any move would come with the Premiership champions’ blessing. “The news was as much a shock to us as it was to everyone. It’s all speculation at the minute,” George said, speaking in his capacity as an ambassador for financial services provider, Funding Circle. “Obviously he would be a very big loss to everyone at Saracens because of the player and character he is, but there’s no guarantee that he is going. He’s given so much to the club, so much to the game and so much to English rugby as a whole. “He deserves to make his own decision and whatever he decides to do he has the full support of everyone at the club.” Unless Borthwick opts for a left-field pick, either George, George Ford or Ellis Genge will lead England in their Six Nations opener against Italy on 3 February. George, the nation’s undisputed first choice hooker who is set to be offered a ‘hybrid contract’ by the Rugby Football Union, has previously captained Saracens and the Lions. “I’m hugely flattered to be in the conversation,” said George, who is poised to recover from a neck injury in time to face Bordeaux on Sunday. “Obviously I’ve played with Owen my entire life so captaincy is something that has always fallen to him, and rightly so because he’s incredible. I have led teams before so it is something that I would really embrace and really enjoy.”

Ireland, meanwhile, have suffered a major injury blow with wing Mack Hansen being ruled out of the Six Nations. Hansen was due to undergo surgery on Monday after sustaining a dislocated shoulder during Connacht’s United Rugby Championship clash against Munster. “Mack Hansen [shoulder] will undergo surgery today for a dislocated shoulder and is expected to be unavailable for three-four months,” Connacht said. The defending Six Nations champions, Ireland, kick off their campaign against France in Marseille on 2 February. Hansen, 25, has rapidly developed into a key player for the Ireland head coach, Andy Farrell, scoring nine tries in 21 Tests since making his debut in February 2022. He will also miss Connacht’s final two Investec Champions Cup pool games against Lyon and Bristol.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/jan/08/saracens-face-a-very-big-loss-if-farrell-opts-to-join-racing-92-says-george