English fly-half Owen Farrell, Racing 92’s star recruit, gave his first impressions at a press conference on Tuesday.
England fly-half Owen Farrell said on Tuesday «impatient» to begin his adventure in the Top 14 with Racing 92, of which he is the star recruit of the summer, a few days before the first match of the season. “I am very happy to be here, in an ambitious club like Racing 92, to come and play in a fantastic competition like the Top 14 which is booming. I can’t wait to get started.”said the England international (112 caps) at a press conference.
“At Racing we have always had a tradition of great number 10s. Owen will take over from players like Dan Carter, Juan Martin Hernandez and Finn Russell”warned the owner of the Parisian club Jacky Lorenzetti, delighted with his new star recruit. The best scorer in the history of his selection, Farrell has signed for two seasons with the Ciel et Blanc and should play his first minutes on Saturday in Castres, after having played for more than a decade at Saracens. “When I started thinking about doing something different, I never really talked to another club. Racing was a perfect fit for me so it was an easy choice.”explained Owen Farrell.
«“It can’t be a one-man job.”
The key factor in his arrival at Racing 92 was the presence on the bench of Stuart Lancaster, the coach who launched him in the England jersey. “Our relationship goes back to 2012. When I took charge of the national team, I fielded Owen, who was then 20 years old, for my first match”recalled Lancaster, who is starting his second season at Racing 92. “From the beginning, he has never let anyone down, whether at Saracens or with England. He is a confirmed number 10 and when I explained the club’s project to him he was very motivated to come.”he added.
Also readTop 14: “Nothing has been decided yet” for the future of Springkogs star Kolisi at Racing 92, says Lorenzetti
But the fly-half does not see himself as the man of choice for a club that has been chasing a title since 2016. “It’s not all about me. I’m here to integrate into a team and I hope to bring a little bit of what I do well. It can’t be the work of just one player.”he warned, saying to himself “very impatient” to share the hinge with the young French international Nolann Le Garrec. “He’s a fantastic player and I’m looking forward to building a relationship with him, seeing how I can adapt to his game and also what he can bring to me.”explained Farrell. Unfortunately their association is not expected to be for this weekend, the French scrum-half being in the recovery phase after an injury.
