Fresh twist to Owen Farrell exit rumours as potential new role emerges

Owen Farrell is in talks about a sensational return to his former club, Saracens, in a player-coach role just a year after joining French giants Racing 92.

Farrell is due to be under contract to the Top 14 side until the end of next season, but has told them that he wants to leave and return to North London at the end of this season.

The former England skipper has endured a horrible season in a struggling Racing side and has been restricted to just scoring 41 points in 17 appearances after a long-standing battle with a groin injury.

The 33-year-old’s last appearance came against Lyon in the Challenge Cup semi-final on May 4th, at inside-centre, and lasted just 18 minutes.

It hit his hopes of linking up with Dad Andy, who is coaching the Lions in Australia this summer, but he is facing a race against the clock for one of the two seats on the plane that have been left empty.

Farrell, who has toured three times with the Lions, announced in February 2024 that he was leaving Saracens after making 256 appearances for the club to move to France, and few doubted that he would return to finish his career at the StoneX.

During his stay in North London, Farrell landed an impressive six Premiership titles and three European Champions Cups.

It remains to be seen if England’s leading all-time points scorer has been earmarked to replace another Saracens legend, Kevin Sorrell, whose departure from Mark McCall’s coaching staff was announced on Monday morning, or if they will find him another role.

However, Saracens could face late competition for his services from Leicester Tigers, who have made a couple of unsuccessful attempts to lure him to Welford Road this year.
They need a big-name fly-half with Handré Pollard set to leave at the end of the season, but like Saracens, they will have to buy him out of the final 12 months of his deal.