Racing 92 president Jacky Lorenzetti has accused Owen Farrell of lying to the French club before leaving to rejoin Saracens and play for the British & Irish Lions.
The England flyhalf joined Racing from Saracens in 2024 but endured a torrid season in Paris, plagued by groin and concussion problems. His last outing for the French side was the Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Lyon on 4 May, when he suffered a head knock that ruled him out of the rest of their domestic campaign.
A month later he confirmed his return to Saracens, and on 3 July was drafted into Andy Farrell’s Lions squad to replace the injured Elliot Daly, going on to feature in the second and third Tests against Australia.
That comeback left Lorenzetti furious. Speaking to L’Équipe, he said: “I was upset, I felt like vomiting. When he left us, he told us, ‘I am injured, I have a headache, I want to play less. The Saracens offer me this opportunity etc …’ And a few days later, he played with the Lions. He lied to us. I need to say the truth about him. I have the feeling to have been betrayed.”
Farrell, who had signed a two-year contract with an option for a third, started just 14 games in Paris. Lorenzetti had already publicly criticised him during the season, saying his return from injury was played “at the speed of a snail going backwards”.
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The Racing boss has been equally scathing of other overseas stars: Johnny Sexton lasted just two seasons, while Siya Kolisi’s stint ended after a single campaign, with Lorenzetti blasting the Springbok captain for being “out of shape” and “transparent” in a defeat to Bordeaux.
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