Owen Farrell: Former England captain admits social media abuse ‘hard to get away from’ | Rugby Union News

Owen Farrell mentioned he nonetheless felt the sting of social media abuse in the course of the Rugby World Cup, despite the fact that he deleted his accounts in the course of the event.

Former England captain Farrell was the goal of critics in the course of the World Cup and introduced on the finish of November he would step again from worldwide rugby to guard his and his household’s psychological well being.

Talking publicly for the primary time since making that announcement, forward of his membership Saracens’ Gallagher Premiership match towards Harlequins at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, the fly-half acknowledged he tries not to concentrate to social media feedback, however continues to be conscious of it.

“I do not actually attempt to look an excessive amount of into it and clearly it is arduous to get away from these days,” Farrell mentioned.

“You sort of really feel it at instances, however you would be mistaken to entertain it an excessive amount of as a result of anybody’s opinion I respect or anybody who I consider or anybody I do know, to be trustworthy, I would not see them going into feedback sections and writing stuff.

“My ideas could be why would I give it some thought an excessive amount of? However you do get a way of it. I deleted social media for the entire of the World Cup. You continue to really feel it is there, however the one factor that stays fixed is you attempt to be your greatest.”

The criticism Farrell confronted in the course of the World Cup, which noticed England attain the semi-finals earlier than being edged out by eventual champions South Africa, was not restricted to social media.

It included him being booed by some England followers when his identify was learn out forward of the quarter-final win over Fiji, though he put his choice to step again from the nationwide group right down to a wide range of causes.

“The World Cup was troublesome at instances, however I actually loved the enjoying aspect of it and the being concerned aspect,” Farrell mentioned. “I used to be attempting to get again to having fun with my rugby, loving what I am doing, and I am having fun with it now.

“It is by no means one factor why you decide. Usually it is numerous issues which come collectively which make these choices.

“I believed it will be greatest for me and my household, there is a change occurring subsequent yr off the again of it. I’ve carried out that as a result of I feel will probably be good for me and I hope that can give me the area to get again to having fun with what I am doing.”

Farrell might be ineligible to play for England till summer time 2026 not less than after agreeing to affix French membership Racing 92 when his contract with Saracens expires on the finish of the present Premiership marketing campaign.

The 32-year-old doesn’t know whether or not he could but pull on an England shirt once more as soon as his take care of Racing concludes, however is worked up by the prospect of a brand new alternative after being a part of Sarries’ squad since making his debut in 2008.

“While you come to the tip of your contract and there is a World Cup, folks see what your future plans are and I would by no means actually entertained something earlier than,” Farrell mentioned. “Nevertheless it was the primary time us as a household thought it is perhaps good for us to go and expertise one thing completely different.

“I used to be open and trustworthy with the folks right here [at Saracens] as early as I could possibly be, and there was no choice made at the moment however I used to be simply laying out what I used to be pondering and the way I used to be feeling.

“Everyone right here was actually supportive. This place will not be straightforward to go away, it has been my house for so long as I can bear in mind, I’ve bought numerous good associates right here and been right here for 14 years or so. It wasn’t a straightforward choice, however hopefully a very good one for us in the long term.”