Rugby fans who refresh England team news keep seeing Owen Farrell’s name do something unusual: it stays relevant even when he is not in a squad. Farrell was not considered for England’s autumn training squad, but he has not closed the door on international rugby.

The combination of his Saracens return, his family priorities, and a still-evolving England selection policy makes this a story about timing as much as talent.

Current club: Saracens (Sky Sports) · Position: Fly-half / Centre · England caps: 112 (Wikipedia) · Lions tours: 4 (British & Irish Lions) · 2025 England status: Not selected for autumn training squad

Snapshot

The selection call

Reuters reported on that Farrell was not considered for England’s training squad. Head coach Steve Borthwick framed the decision around squad depth.

The twist

Farrell is not retired. Sky Sports quoted Farrell directly: “I’m not retired from England selection.”

The context

Farrell’s return to Saracens restored the England eligibility that his time at Racing 92 had complicated, according to Sky Sports.

The watch-list

The next England squad will be judged by how Borthwick balances form, family context, and the need to build depth. Farrell’s name remains the headline.

Farrell’s official bio mixes personal milestones with high-competition numbers; the row that matters most for England fans is the quiet one about where he plays his club rugby.

Attribute Detail Reference
Full name Owen Andrew Farrell Wikipedia
Date of birth Wikipedia
Place of birth Wigan, England Wikipedia
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Wikipedia
Weight 96 kg (212 lb) Wikipedia
Current club Saracens Sky Sports
Position Fly-half / Centre British & Irish Lions
England caps 112 (as of 2025) Wikipedia
Lions tours 2013, 2017, 2021, 2025 British & Irish Lions
Children 2 Wikipedia
Father Andy Farrell (rugby coach) Wikipedia

Why Farrell was not in England’s autumn squad

Reuters reported that Farrell was not considered for England’s autumn training squad. Borthwick’s explanation centred on squad depth: the coaching staff wanted to look at the group available to them rather than build a selection around a player who had spent so much time away from Test rugby.

The decision did not come out of nowhere. RugbyIsTheGame noted in September 2025 that Farrell had not featured for England since the World Cup and that his absence remained uncertain. That is the lens through which this story should be read: a player can say he is available, but selection is a coaching decision.

The catch: Farrell can keep the door open, but Borthwick controls the frame. The autumn call was about building England’s depth, not settling a personal grudge.
What this means: Borthwick’s squad-depth focus pushes Farrell further from an immediate recall. The far north will not change until Borthwick sees a compelling reason to bring him back.

Is Owen Farrell retired from England rugby?

No. The most important line in this story comes from Sky Sports, which quoted Farrell saying directly: “I’m not retired from England selection.” That is not the language of a player who has walked away.

At the same time, Reuters notes that Farrell had not represented England since stepping away after the World Cup. Those two facts sit together: Farrell decided he needed a break, but he did not request a formal retirement. The absence is real; the end of his Test career is not yet written.

Bottom line: Farrell is not retired. He is a former regular who has been out of the England picture since , not a player who has caused his own exit.
Takeaway: Farrell’s public availability clashes with Borthwick’s rebuild. The next squad will test whether that gap can be bridged.

What Farrell’s Saracens return actually changed

Farrell’s move back to Saracens mattered because England’s selection policy had made his French club spell complicated. Sky Sports reported that the Saracens return restored his England eligibility under the RFU’s home-based player policy. That is the quiet but crucial detail: once Farrell was back at Saracens, the coaching conversation changed from “can we pick him?” to “does he fit the plan?”

The autumn squad suggests Borthwick still does not see Farrell as an automatic starter. Being eligible matters, but it is only one step back into contention.

The trade-off: Home-based eligibility gets a player into the conversation; form and fit get him into the 23.
Implication: Farrell’s club return unbars the door but does not swing it open. Performance at Saracens will determine his next England call.

Farrell’s Test timeline: from 2013 Lions to 2025 squad decisions

The British & Irish Lions website lists Farrell on tours in 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2025. That continuity tells us what England’s coaching staff have seen in the past: a player who can handle the biggest stages. But Test rugby is about what happens next.

  • : Farrell steps away after the World Cup, his last England appearance to date. Reuters
  • June 2025: Farrell says he is not retired from England selection. Sky Sports
  • September 2025: RugbyIsTheGame reports his absence remains uncertain.
  • : Farrell is not considered for England’s autumn training squad. Reuters
Why this matters: The timeline shows a player moving through phases: post-World Cup reset, Saracens return, public availability, then a selection decision. That is not the pattern of a player spiralling out; it is the pattern of a player trying to stay relevant on his own terms.
Pattern: Farrell’s timeline reflects a careful exit and re-entry, not a rebel exit. The trap is waiting on Borthwick’s readiness to integrate him.

What is confirmed and what is still being talked up

The Irish Examiner has noted that Farrell often cites family as a priority. His father, Andy, is a rugby coach, and Farrell is a father of two. That context matters when reading his decision to step back from England while remaining at club level.

Confirmed:

  • Farrell was not considered for England’s autumn training squad. Reuters
  • Farrell has said he is not retired from England selection. Sky Sports
  • His return to Saracens restored his England eligibility. Sky Sports
  • He has toured with the British & Irish Lions in 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2025. British & Irish Lions

Still being talked up:

  • That Farrell is retiring from Test rugby. His own words contradict that. Sky Sports
  • That he is injured. Reuters framed the autumn absence as a squad-building call, not an injury issue.
  • That he is leaving Saracens again. That is not supported by the reporting around his move back. Sky Sports

Farrell’s own words and the reporting view

“I’m not retired from England selection.”

Owen Farrell, via Sky Sports

“All British and Irish Lions call-up chat is hypothetical.”

Sky Sports reporting

“Farrell’s Lions experience is ‘gold dust’ for a young squad.”

Justin Harrison, via BBC Sport

The second and third lines are why the next squad matters. Farrell has been here before: a big name, a player with Lions history, and a family-driven sense of timing. RugbyIsTheGame reported in September 2025 that Farrell had not featured for England since the World Cup and that his absence remained uncertain. That uncertainty is now the story.

The next England squad will feel different

The autumn squad is not a lifetime ban. England’s coaching staff have made clear they are building depth, which leaves the door open for Farrell if he returns to the form that made him a Lions fixture. He remains a recognisable face in rugby, with the kind of endorsement profile — including Nike and other brands — that keeps him in the commercial spotlight. Wikipedia

The final read: Farrell is not selecting himself. The next England squad will be defined by Borthwick’s preferences, but the supporting cast around that call will include Farrell’s age, his family priorities, and a player who still believes he has a Test future.

Why did Owen Farrell change his name?

There is no documented evidence that Owen Farrell legally changed his name. The question likely arises from confusion with his father Andy Farrell’s name or from online speculation. Owen Farrell has always used the surname Farrell in professional rugby. Wikipedia

How many children has Owen Farrell got?

Owen Farrell and his wife Georgie have two children: a son Tommy (born 2017) and a daughter (born 2020, name not publicly confirmed). He often cites family as his priority when explaining his international break. Wikipedia

How rich is Owen Farrell?

Farrell’s net worth is estimated at about £5–10 million. His Saracens contract is reportedly among the highest in the Premiership, and he has endorsement deals with Nike and other brands. No official figure has been confirmed. Sky Sports

Related reading: Wayne Rooney: Net Worth, Career, and 2024 Facts · Colin Jackson: Life, Career, Records & Personal Life

Additional sources

theguardian.com, rugbyisthegame.com, evrimagaci.org, theguardian.com, thesun.co.uk, gbnews.com

FAQ

Does Owen Farrell have a child?

Yes. He is a father of two. Wikipedia

Has Owen Farrell retired from international rugby?

No. He told Sky Sports that he is not retired from England selection.

What happened between Owen Farrell and Saracens?

Farrell moved back to Saracens, which restored his England eligibility under the RFU’s home-based player policy. Sky Sports

Was Owen Farrell selected for the British and Irish Lions?

Official Lions records list tours in 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2025. British & Irish Lions

Why is Owen Farrell leaving Saracens?

He is not currently leaving Saracens. The question appears to mix up his earlier departure with his later return. Sky Sports

Do any rugby clubs make a profit?

Some clubs do, but the bigger point for Farrell’s situation is that England selection now rewards players based at English clubs. Where he plays matters more than a club balance sheet.