Owen Farrell, the fly-half from England, will be playing for a World XV against France on June 22 in Spain. This news was announced on Friday, with Farrell set to feature in the match at Athletic Club’s San Mames stadium in Bilbao. This will be Farrell’s first time playing for an invitation team like the World XV. He expressed his excitement about the opportunity, mentioning how he is looking forward to playing alongside players he usually competes against for club and country, such as Semi Radradra, Camille Lopez, and Maxime Machenaud.
Despite not playing for England recently due to his move to French club Racing 92 on January 22, Farrell’s presence and leadership on the pitch have been widely recognized. His involvement in the World XV match against France is anticipated to be significant in setting the tone, driving standards, and contributing to the team’s performance both in training and on match day.
Farrell moved from Saracens to Racing 92 on a two-year deal that renders him ineligible for Test selection. However, Ian Foster, former All Blacks head coach who now leads the World XV team, expressed his delight at having a player of Farrell’s ability, leadership skills and experience on board. The World XV will also feature Billy and Mako Vunipola who are both well-known players in their own right.
The last time Farrell played for England was in the World Cup bronze medal match against Argentina on October 27. During his absence from the international scene, he took a step back from internationals to focus on his mental well-being and that of his family. Farrell expressed how much he missed being part of international rugby but understood that taking time away was necessary for his mental health.
