There was a smile on Owen Farrell’s face as he took his seat in the back-room at Old Albanians Rugby Club for his first interview since the World Cup. ‘I’ve been looking forward to this,’ said the No 10, with a knowing smirk. Press conferences have never been his cup of tea but he can joke about it now there are not many left before he leaves English rugby.

A weight has been lifted off his shoulders since he gave up the England captaincy and it showed through his words. The booing and the intense scrutiny has been left behind. 

He immediately spoke about having the time to fly to fly to Dublin to watch his younger brother, Gabriel, playing for the Under 12s – the sort of tale he would previously have kept private. 

‘He’s No8 for Belvedere …I’ve never watched him play before. It’s been nice to spend some time with my family during the Six Nations. Nice to sit back a bit and try and enjoy the games.’

Owen Farrell has left the door ajar for an England and Saracens return, with the fly-half set to join Racing 92 at the end of the season

Owen Farrell has left the door ajar for an England and Saracens return, with the fly-half set to join Racing 92 at the end of the season

Owen Farrell has left the door ajar for an England and Saracens return, with the fly-half set to join Racing 92 at the end of the season

The 32-year-old admitted he was 'happy' with the decision to leave Saracens, after 15 seasons

The 32-year-old admitted he was 'happy' with the decision to leave Saracens, after 15 seasons

The 32-year-old admitted he was ‘happy’ with the decision to leave Saracens, after 15 seasons

Farrell was pictured in the stands at Twickenham as he watched England beat Ireland, with his dad, Andy, the head coach of the Irish national side

Farrell was pictured in the stands at Twickenham as he watched England beat Ireland, with his dad, Andy, the head coach of the Irish national side

Farrell was pictured in the stands at Twickenham as he watched England beat Ireland, with his dad, Andy, the head coach of the Irish national side

The enjoyment had begun to wane but Farrell sat in the stands for England’s victory over Ireland and felt an ‘itch’ to be back on the pitch. 

He will move to Paris at the end of the season but he spoke about his refreshed ambitions, leaving the door ajar for a potential England comeback in years to come.

‘I am happy enough,’ he said. ‘You sit there and watch any massive game like that was and wish you wanted to be involved but I am happy with the decision at the moment.

‘Obviously the World Cup was difficult at times. I deleted social media for the whole of the World Cup, and you still kind of feel that it’s there. 

‘I was just trying to get back to enjoying myself, trying to get back to enjoying my rugby, trying to get back to loving what I’m doing. I’m working to doing that.

‘This place is not an easy place to leave. This place has been my home for as long as I can remember. I have a lot of good, good friends here. I have been here with people for 14 years. It wasn’t an easy decision but hopefully it will be a good one.’

He has signed a two-year contract at Racing 92, meaning there is an outside chance that he could return to Saracens before the 2027 World Cup. 

His father, Andy (right), will coach the Lions on their tour of Australia in 2025 and the former England captain said he had congratulated his dad on the honour

His father, Andy (right), will coach the Lions on their tour of Australia in 2025 and the former England captain said he had congratulated his dad on the honour

His father, Andy (right), will coach the Lions on their tour of Australia in 2025 and the former England captain said he had congratulated his dad on the honour  

He has signed a two-year contract at Racing 92, meaning there is a chance that he could return to Saracens before the 2027 World Cup

He has signed a two-year contract at Racing 92, meaning there is a chance that he could return to Saracens before the 2027 World Cup

He has signed a two-year contract at Racing 92, meaning there is a chance that he could return to Saracens before the 2027 World Cup

Farrell said 'we'll see' when questioned over a possible return to Saracens and England before the World Cup

Farrell said 'we'll see' when questioned over a possible return to Saracens and England before the World Cup

Farrell said ‘we’ll see’ when questioned over a possible return to Saracens and England before the World Cup

Asked if he was open to a possible return for club and country, he said: ‘We’ll see. There’s no point in saying anything now because I don’t know how I’m going to feel later down the line. We’ll see.’

Saracens are understood to have looked at a number of potential fly-half successors, including Kiwi Fergus Burke, as they prepare for a changing of the guard. 

Head coach Mark McCall confirmed the Vunipola brothers, Mako and Billy, are also likely to leave at the end of the season but he suggested that Farrell could yet feature on the national stage.

‘Johnny Sexton probably played his best games for Ireland in the last couple of years of his career,’ said McCall. ‘There are very few players who can and I think Owen is one of them. But you have got to have the drive to do that, you have got to have the competitive spirit to do that. 

‘I think he has that. He can keep going for as long as that drive and competitive spirit is there.’

Next year, Farrell’s dad, Andy, will coach the Lions on their tour of Australia. Asked if he has discussed the idea of featuring in the Series, the No 10 said: ‘Have I spoken to my dad about it? I’ve told him “Well done”, if that counts! There’s nothing to talk about – whatever happens, happens. 

‘There are no decisions to be made about any of that. When it gets closer to the time, I guess things become clear or they don’t. You see how people are at that time. There is nothing to talk about there at the minute.’

Sarries boss Mark McCall (left) lauded Farrell as 'one of very few players' who could return to play some of their best games at international level in the later stages of his career

Sarries boss Mark McCall (left) lauded Farrell as 'one of very few players' who could return to play some of their best games at international level in the later stages of his career

Sarries boss Mark McCall (left) lauded Farrell as ‘one of very few players’ who could return to play some of their best games at international level in the later stages of his career

But Farrell admitted that he just wants to enjoy playing rugby for as long as possible

But Farrell admitted that he just wants to enjoy playing rugby for as long as possible

But Farrell admitted that he just wants to enjoy playing rugby for as long as possible

He wants to go out with a bang, beginning the drive to the finish line with this weekend’s game against Harlequins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

‘Do you think I’m winding down?’ he chirped. ‘I want to play for as long as I possibly can, as long as I am enjoying it. I love playing. That’s always been the case, even during the tougher bits I’ve spoken about. I loved the game, and I loved the rugby. 

‘I want to enjoy all of it a bit more. That’s how I think I am going to get the best out of myself and play my best. We’ll see what happens.’

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