Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Cancelled: Next month's Owen Farrell return to international rugby

Former England skipper Owen Farrell (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Owen Farrell has been denied a return to international rugby next month as the planned World XV match versus France in Bilbao has been cancelled.

ADVERTISEMENT

It was just 13 days ago when the former England skipper announced he would end his recent Test sabbatical by lining out for an Ian Foster selection against Fabien Galthie’s Les Bleus in Spain on June 22.

The 32-year-old had announced last November a Test rugby sabbatical away from England duty following the completion of the Rugby World Cup.

Video Spacer

Pieter-Steph du Toit with Big Jim – Teaser trailer | RPTV

Double World Cup winning Springbok Pieter-Steph du Toit hosts Jim Hamilton in Japan for an all-encompassing chat about the Rugby World Cup, horrific injuries and Chasing the Sun 2. Watch the full chat on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

Video Spacer

Pieter-Steph du Toit with Big Jim – Teaser trailer | RPTV

Double World Cup winning Springbok Pieter-Steph du Toit hosts Jim Hamilton in Japan for an all-encompassing chat about the Rugby World Cup, horrific injuries and Chasing the Sun 2. Watch the full chat on RugbyPass TV

Watch now

However, the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour hopeful was poised to return to the international arena with next month’s outing eight months after he led the English to a bronze medal October final win over Argentina in Paris.

That return, though, has now been shelved with organisers of the match stating that refunds for purchased tickets would be refunded. According to French media reports, reasons relating to the staging of the match resulted in its cancellation.

Fixture
Gallagher Premiership
Bristol
20 - 41
Full-time
Saracens
All Stats and Data

Farrell’s impending two-year switch to Racing from Saracens will make him unavailable for an England recall due to the RFU’s rules governing player selection, but the match in Bilbao was to serve as a reminder that the out-half very much still has what it takes to impress against Test-level opposition.

He had spoken a fortnight ago about his excitement that he had been invited to play against the French by Foster, the former All Blacks coach. “The prospect of playing for the World XV is incredibly exciting,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“This will be the first time I will have played for an invitation team such as the World XV.

“Joining up with guys you normally line up against for club or country, such as Semi Radradra, Camille Lopez, Maxime Machenaud, in a less pressurised environment is something I am really looking forward to.

“I am sure the players will want to get out there and play entertainingly and put on an amazing spectacle for the Basque and French people to experience.”

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

3 Comments
J
Jon 312 days ago

Shame. Hope something else can be arranged.

J
Joseph 313 days ago

The fact that the press were largely to blame for his taking a break is nothing short of disgusting. He’s made a few mistakes but difficult to name a player of any substance who gives it a full go hasn’t also made mistakes? On behalf of a large number of Bokke fans, bring back Farrell !

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

K
Kathy Williams 1 hour ago
Can 'great' Gibson-Park best 'freakish' Dupont in scrum-half clash for the ages?

My Journey Through Loss, Discovery, and Recover/ Hack Savvy Tech


Since December 2024, my family and I had been planning the perfect getaway to the Lake District. After years of saving and sacrificing, we decided it was finally time to treat ourselves to a dream vacation. We were planning a trip that would cost us £15,000 in total, a considerable amount that we hoped would create lasting memories. I found an appealing holiday package offered by what seemed like a reputable travel agency online. After reviewing all the details and comparing it to other options, I felt confident and excited, so I went ahead and booked the trip on Valentine's Day, thinking it would be a special gesture for our family. I paid £5,000 as a deposit for what I thought would be the vacation of a lifetime.However, things quickly took a devastating turn. After making the payment, I received a vague email confirmation, but then, all communication stopped altogether. When I tried to get in touch with the agency, their phone lines were disconnected, and their website went offline. It was clear that something wasn’t right. I was in disbelief, but I quickly realized that my family and I had been scammed. The £5,000 I had paid, as part of the larger £15,000 cost, seemed completely lost . As a Marketing Executive, I’m usually quite cautious with online transactions, but in this case, I let my excitement and trust cloud my judgment. The emotional impact of losing such a significant amount of money, especially after planning this vacation for months, was overwhelming. My family was devastated, and I felt deeply betrayed by the fraudulent agency. I didn’t know where to turn for help.That’s when I found Hack Savvy Tech . After reading about their expertise in helping people who had fallen victim to online scams, I decided to reach out. From the very first consultation, they made me feel supported and reassured. The team immediately began investigating the fraudulent travel agency and quickly uncovered a history of scams involving the same company. Hack Savvy Tech guided me through the process of disputing the payment with my bank, Lloyds Bank, providing all the necessary evidence and documentation. They handled everything on my behalf, communicating with the bank and working through all the complexities of the dispute. Their knowledge and dedication were invaluable, and after a few weeks, I was thrilled to find out that they had successfully recovered the full £5,000 I had lost.Not only did I get back the full amount, but Lloyds Bank also provided additional compensation for the stress and inconvenience caused by the scam. Thanks to Hack Savvy Tech, I was able to rebook a legitimate holiday to the Lake District for my family. With the money we recovered, we planned the vacation we had dreamed of, and we made unforgettable memories together.What had started as a heartbreaking experience turned into a joyous and well-deserved family getaway, all thanks to the expertise and support of Hack Savvy Tech.  


mail: contactus@hacksavvytechnology.com

Website: https://hacksavvytechrecovery.com

Whatsapp : +79998295038

8 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Six Nations 2025: What's good and what's bad from this year's tournament Six Nations 2025: What's good and what's bad from this year's tournament
Search