Owen Farrell, the English fly-half, will be playing for a World XV team against France on June 22 in Spain. This was announced on Friday, with Farrell set to feature in the match at Athletic Club’s San Mames stadium in Bilbao. This will be his first time playing for an invitation team like the World XV. He expressed his excitement about the opportunity and mentioned 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.
Farrell last played for England during 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 and his family’s mental well-being. The World XV will be led by former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster, with Billy and Mako Vunipola also featuring in the team.
Foster expressed his delight at having a player of Farrell’s ability, leadership and experience on the team. Despite not playing for England recently, Farrell’s presence and leadership on the pitch have been widely recognized. His involvement in this match 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.
After signing a two-year deal with French club Racing 92 from Saracens on January 22, Farrell is no longer eligible for Test selection. However, his skills as a fly-half have been recognized globally and this opportunity allows him to showcase them once again while also testing himself against some of the best players in world rugby.
Farrell has always been known for his strong work ethic and dedication towards improving himself as a player. He has taken this opportunity to hone his skills further by playing with top class players such as Radradra, Lopez, Machenaud amongst others who are part of this squad. This match presents him with an excellent chance to prove himself once again while also leading by example for other young players looking up to him.
The announcement of Farrell’s inclusion in this squad has already sparked excitement among rugby fans around the world who eagerly await to see how they perform together against France next month in Bilbao.