Farrell wins rugby writers’ annual award
ENGLAND centre Owen Farrell has been voted the Rugby Union Writers’ Club personality of the year for 2017.
Farrell was recognised at the club’s annual dinner in central London and follows in the footsteps of previous Pat Marshall Memorial Award winners including Jonah Lomu, Jonny Wilkinson, Martin Johnson and Dan Carter.
The goal-kicking fly-half and centre enjoyed a superb year, helping England defend their NatWest 6 Nations title and contributing to the British and Irish Lions’ drawn series in New Zealand.
He was also instrumental in Saracens retaining their Champions Cup crown and was shortlisted for World Rugby’s player of the year award for 2017.
Farrell came out on top in a poll of the RUWC’s 200-plus members and was picked ahead of Exeter head coach Rob Baxter, Wales and Lions duo Jonathan Davies and Sam Warburton, and Saracens’ England and Lions forward Maro Itoje.
The Special Award for a lifetime’s contribution to rugby union went to Doddie Weir, the former lock forward who represented Melrose, Newcastle Falcons, the Borders, Scotland and the Lions squad of 1997. ■■Billy Vunipola has turned to ice baths and regimented sleeping patterns to ensure his latest comeback from surgery is not short lived.
Vunipola produced a powerful 69 minutes in Saracens’ 38-15 Aviva Premiership victory over Wasps to complete his comeback after four months out with a knee injury.
The giant No8’s comeback was acclaimed as “extraordinary” by his director of rugby Mark McCall and it is hoped by England and Saracens that the 25-year-old’s third major operation in 10 months will usher in a period of uninterrupted availability.
To improve his chances of evading further medical setbacks, Vunipola has made adjustments to his preparation.
“I used to turn my nose up at ice baths, but I do them now,” Vunipola said.
“They’re only five minutes, although I get bored quite easily so I might jump out after two or three minutes. As long as the intention is there!
“I’m trying to sleep better, get in a good routine. Sleeping at a consistent time, like normal people do, not sleep during the day and then not going to bed until one or two am.”
Saracens endured a shock seven-match losing run in Vunipola’s absence but their rout of title rivals Wasps put further distance between themselves and that bleak spell that reached its nadir with a home thumping by Clermont.