Owen Farrell's exodus from the England team for this Six Nations was one of the biggest stories of the 2024 championship.
The ex-England skipper announced in the aftermath of last year's World Cup semi-final run that he would be taking an extended break from international rugby to "prioritise his and his family’s mental wellbeing."
In the build-up to the tournament, Farrell had faced significant media scrutiny after a red card against Wales in a warm-up game led to him missing the first two games of the World Cup through suspension.
Though Farrell was present in the stands during England's Six Nations journey, he has now solidified his step away from the national team setup by completing a blockbuster move to French side Racing 92 for next season.
It is unclear if or when Farrell may return to the English squad. A fresh revelation from the CEO of rugby league side Wigan Warriors has brought to light how close Farrell came to stepping away from rugby union altogether.
READ HERE: ESPN Shock Jock Pat McAfee Thinks Louis Rees-Zammit Is Irish
READ HERE: New Zealand Star Had Blunt Response To Question About Ireland Being World's Best Team
Owen Farrell considered rugby league switch last year
19 August 2023; Ireland head coach Andy Farrell shakes hands with Owen Farrell of England, in the company of Manu Tuilagi of England, right, after the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Wigan CEO Kris Radlinski spoke to Planet Rugby this week and revealed that he had spoken to Owen Farrell on several occasions on the topic of a potential switch to rugby league.
Radlinski said that the most recent of those conversations had happened around the time of the World Cup, and that it was the closest Farrell came to following in his father's footsteps and switching codes:
Owen’s been part of my life for 20 years. He’s always been around our club and our training, from a young kid and I’ve always posed the question, ‘Do you ever want to play for Wigan?'
Those most recent conversations might only have been six or seven months ago, when his future was uncertain at Saracens and he had a decision to make.
We were right in the mix, we were right at the party. I guess that’s probably the closest we came.
Owen Farrell's father, Ireland head coach Andy, played rugby league for Wigan for 14 years, before switching codes to union in 2005.
Farrell senior will take charge of the British and Irish Lions next year for their tour of Australia, with uncertainty as to whether Owen will be considered for the squad given his imminent detachment from the English game.
The revelation that Owen Farrell considered a move to rugby league is an eye-opening indicator of the pressure he felt during a time of immense scrutiny from both the English media and fans.
Perhaps the next time we see the 32-year-old in an England jersey could be in a different code.
SEE ALSO: Paul O'Connell Explains The Big Advantage Ireland Have Over Other Teams
