Owen Farrell

Owen Farrell

Farrell kicks off for Saracens

Full name

Owen Andrew Farrell

Date of birth

24 September 1991 (age 22)

Place of birth

Billinge, Wigan, Greater Manchester, England

Height

1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)

Weight

96 kg (15 st 2 lb)[1]

School

St. John Fisher Catholic High School

St George's School

Notable relative(s)

Andy Farrell (father)

Liam Farrell (cousin)

Sean O'Loughlin (uncle)

Rugby union career

Playing career

Position

Fly-Half, Centre

Professional / senior clubs

Years

Club / team

Caps

(points)

2008present

Saracens

84

(828)

correct as of 1 January 2014.

National team(s)

Years

Club / team

Caps

(points)

2012present

England

20

(203)

2013

Lions

(0)

correct as of 1 February 2014.

Owen Andrew Farrell (born 24 September 1991) is an English rugby union player, currently playing for Aviva Premiership side Saracens. His father is Andy Farrell, who played both for England's rugby league and rugby union sides. His primary position is fly-half, but he often plays at centre.
Early career

Farrell was born on 24 September 1991 in Wigan, Greater Manchester. He began playing rugby league in his hometown at the age of eight forWigan St Patricks.[2] When his father Andy signed for Saracens in 2005, his family moved to Harpenden, where Owen was introduced torugby union for the first time.[3]
Saracens

He held the record of youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby union after playing for Saracens 11 days after his 17th birthday, in a 2617 home defeat against Llanelli Scarlets in the EDF Energy Cup on 5 October 2008,[4] until this record was broken in November 2009 by Leicester's George Ford, the son of another former Rugby League international (Mike Ford). In the 201011 season, Farrell signed for Bedford Blues on loan. However, he returned to Saracens and was pivotal in the 2010-11 Aviva Premiership Final kicking five penalties and converting James Short's try for a personal haul of 17 points in the 2218 victory over reigning champions Leicester Tigers.
England
2012

He was given his first call-up to the England Elite Player Squad when Stuart Lancaster selected him in his squad for the 2012 Six Nations Championship.[5] He made his debut on 4 February 2012 against Scotland, starting at Inside Centre next to Saracens' teammates Brad Barritt and Charlie Hodgson. He kicked two penalties and a conversion, but also missed two tough penalties from around 50 meters. His next match, againstItaly, saw him put in a faultless kicking display, kicking four penalties and a conversion. In the next match against Wales, Farrell played Fly-Half for the first time in an England shirt after Charlie Hodgson sustaining a finger injury in the week leading up to the Wales game.[1] Once again his goal kicking was impressive missing just a single kick out of five but was replaced by Toby Flood later in the game after appearing to injure his leg after a clearance kick. He then played against France and Ireland. In the Ireland game Farrell put in a good kicking display, only missing 1 conversion. Farrell finished the competition with 63 points from 5 games. The 2012 summer tour of South Africa saw Owen Farrell get selected again. Farrell played all game in the warm up game against The Barbarians and scored a respectable 17 points a game that England won comfortably. The first game against South Africa had Owen Farrell played all game. England lost 22 17 in a tight game. Farrell kicked all 4 of his penalties but missed a conversion. Farrell only came on as a substitute in the second test, and couldn't help England avoid defeat for a second time. Farrell didn't score any points in this game. Farrell had 2 spells in the third test. Farrell scored two penalties in a tight game that ended 1414. Farrell also attempted to score his first drop goal. But missed both opportunities. Farrell ended the series with 18 points from 3 appearances. Farrell played his first game in the Autumn test series as a substitute and scored a conversion. On 1 December 2012 Farrell started England's game against the New Zealand team and scored a total of 17 Points, helping England to a record breaking victory, beating the All Blacks by the biggest margin of points England have ever defeated them by. He was nominated for IRB player of the year, but failed to win this, missing out to the New Zealand stand-off, Dan Carter.

2013

Farrell started in the Calcutta Cup vs Scotland, only missing one kick in a near faultless display. He set up one try and assisted England to a strong start in their 2013 Six Nations campaign. He also received the RBS Six Nations man of the match for his performance. After a break from English Rugby due to the Lions Tour, Farrell returned to England for the 2013 QBE Autumn Internationals. He played the full 80 minutes of the match against the Wallabies, kicking two penalties (but also missing three with one hitting the post), two conversions and scoring his debut England try, breaking through a gap in the Australian line of defense and touching down under the posts. His try proved to be the decider, as England went on to win 20-13.