Farrell: Paris move is perfect timing

OWEN FARRELL has said the ‘time feels right’ to leave Saracens as he opened up on his decision to depart his boyhood club and sign for French giants Racing 92. The former England captain confirmed at the start of the year he was taking a break from international rugby to prioritise his and his family’s mental wellbeing. Farrell’s decision to step away from Test duty was then followed by the equally significant news he would be leaving Saracens for the TOP14. The fly-half has signed a twoyear deal with Paris-based Racing, who are coached by Stuart Lancaster — the man who gave him his Test debut. Speaking for the first time about his French switch, Farrell said: ‘It is tough to be leaving a place that has been my home since I was 14. This is where I’ve grown up, met a lot of my friends and started my family. It has been a difficult decision but it is an exciting one for our family. ‘It (moving abroad) has never been something we have thought about before, but for the first time ever we thought it would be good to go and experience something different and the time feels right. Saracens is a very difficult place to leave. The club have been fantastic with us and it really counts for something when they care about nothing but the person. ‘I’ve loved everything about this place — the people especially — and I’ll always be thankful to the fans who support us every weekend.’ Farrell has won 112 England caps and featured on three British & Irish Lions tours. Moving to Racing means he will be ineligible for England under the RFU’s foreign player rules, but would be available to go to Australia with the Lions in 2025 when his father Andy will be in charge. Meanwhile, England’s new wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who got his first try against Scotland, will skip the threeday training camp in York this week so the aspiring doctor can sit a medical exam. Ben Curry has dropped out of the 36-man squad after an injury in training, with Tom Pearson recalled.