12 January 2024 , 00:00
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Andy Farrell left the door open to son Owen touring with the 2025 Lions after being named to succeed Warren Gatland as head coach.
England captain Farrell Jnr has stepped down from international duty to “prioritise his mental well being”. He is in talks over a move to French rugby and former team mate Jacques Burger last night dropped a heavy hint he is going by tweeting: “Thank you for all your contributions to @saracens over the years mate.”
Whether or not the 32-year old is playing for England or in England is of no concern to the Lions, however, the tourists confirmed. Unlike the England team, which is only able to pick from players in the Premiership, the Lions have carte blanche to select who they want.
“It’s about form,” Farrell snr said. “Selection [for Owen] is the same as everyone else. No different.” Lions chief executive Ben Calveley added: “We don’t have a policy that closes off anyone from being selected.
“If you just look at previous Lions tours, we’ve had people come on a tour who haven’t been playing for a national side. Will Greenwood [in 1997] is a great example, even though we are going back a way there.
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“In 2021, Finn Russell was based in France, so we don’t have any restrictions on selection.” Farrell insists he has not talked to Owen about whether he will make himself available for selection.
Calveley said: “Selection, as Andy says, is to happen in 18 months time. When we think about Owen we think about someone who is one of the best players the Lions has ever had. We wish him all the very best.”