Rugby fans stunned after finding out how much Owen Farrell is earning playing for Racing 92

10/24/2024 05:50 AM

Former England skipper Owen Farrell has packed his bags and swapped London for Paris, leaving his beloved Saracens after signing a headline-grabbing deal with French juggernauts Racing 92.

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The move came over the summer, following Farrell's announcement last January that he would be stepping back from the international rugby scene.

That break means Farrell will be a no-show for the 2024 Six Nations, and his international exile is set to stretch for at least two more years – thanks to England's rule barring overseas-based players from selection.

Racing 92 have a habit of attracting the game's biggest names, with legends like Johnny Sexton, Dan Carter, and Finn Russell all gracing their squad, not to mention Springboks captain Siya Kolisi. Now Farrell joins the elite club – but he's taken a serious pay cut to make it happen.

According to L'Equipe, Farrell's Saracens salary was a hefty £1 million per season at Saracens, but in Paris, he's pulling in £685,000 a year, plus bonuses.

Though Farrell has stepped back from the England squad, sources close to him suggest he might look to return to international rugby in the future.

Saracens Salary Cap Conundrum

A return to Saracens might not be straightforward either. Under the current Premiership salary cap regulations, clubs are allowed only one marquee player, exempt from the cap. Saracens' designated marquee player is currently Maro Itoje, who shows no signs of leaving the club or England.

Premiership Interest Elsewhere for Owen Farrell

Before Marcus Smith's recent contract extension with Harlequins, both Bristol Bears and Leicester Tigers were reportedly interested in signing him. Leicester Tigers are preparing for the likely departure of Handré Pollard to Japan next summer, while Bristol Bears are rebuilding after several disappointing seasons, leaving both clubs potentially in the market for a high-profile fly-half like Farrell.

The next move for Owen Farrell remains a topic of speculation as Premiership clubs wait to see if the former Saracens star could make a dramatic return to English rugby.

Owen Farrell names four rugby players he can't stand, including a Springbok

Former England captain Owen Farrell is never afraid of sharing an opinion or two – especially when it's about someone he doesn't particularly like.

#1. Dave Attwood

Former England lock Attwood has opened up on the latest RugbyPass Offload about his ongoing rivalry with Owen Farrell.

The Bath lock won the last of his 24 caps for England back in 2016, which could have a lot to do with his relationship with the current England captain.

He revealed: “On the pitch, I struggle a lot with Owen Farrell. We just don't see eye to eye on a lot of things,

"He hates me with a passion. Despite my earthy roots, he thinks I am a posh c***. He hates that. I bagged rugby league once jovially. I was saying it to take the piss kind of thing, 'a bloody sport for the peasants'. He f**kin' hated it.

“He had a bit of a shout at me and went off to the toilet and I followed him.

"We all had a drink or two after the game but we didn't need to get carried away with this. I was in the urinal behind the door and he was three or four down and as I got in his dad walked in as well, he was coaching at the time. He was, 'I don't want to fuckin' hear it' or something like that and as he walked out he went to open the door and slam it into the back of me. There was like a stop on the floor so it hit the stop and almost clocked him back…

"We never really addressed it after that. That was where it started and it was like a drunken little bit of argy that went too far. He is an incredibly competitive athlete and he is also very f**kin' good, he has got high standards. He is a very competitive athlete and in order to be that good, you have to flirt on the wrong side of competitive.

"So whenever we play each other there is always some element in the game where one of us is running at the other one or we are trying to bang each other. There always seems to be an element of that to it. I am sure he is like, I don't even know that Dave is playing."

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