An emotional Andy Farrell hails son Owen ahead of 100th England cap
Rugby NewsFriday, 18 November 2022 at 16:43
Andy Farrell has hailed his son's 'mental strength, physical strength and resilience' as Owen is poised to win his 100th England cap against New Zealand on Saturday/
Farrell junior will join legends Jason Leonard and Ben Youngs on England’s exclusive list of male Test centurions.
Andy will be in Dublin as his Ireland side face Australia earlier that day before watching his son take on the All Blacks at Twickenham.
"You know the sacrifice that’s gone into a career and anyone who gets up to 100 caps, they’ve shown mental strength, physical strength and resilience in both of those as well,” said Farrell senior.
“Then you add him being my son, it’s pretty special for parents.
"When I’m coaching against Owen or working with him, it’s just work. But when you’re watching your son play his 100th game or his first game, as a parent, that’s even more daunting and even more proud and even more nervous.
"His strength is like every person who gets to these types of milestones – he never thinks he’s that type of player that you’re talking about.
"You speak to Johnny (Sexton) and Conor (Murray) and they would tell you exactly the same. They want to prove their self-worth as a team-mate and as a player every single week and that’s why they stay right at the top through all the ups and downs.’
"I’m busy on Saturday so I can’t go to the game! Hopefully, I will be able to get to the South Africa game (at Twickenham on November 26). I’ve got to go on a recce to France regarding the World Cup, so I’ll see him after the South Africa game hopefully.
Owen Farrell facts:
- The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
- His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
- He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
- It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
- He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.
Fans are only just realising that Owen Farrell’s name wasn’t always Farrell
Owen Farrell's birth certificate has been doing the rounds once again on social media - and fans are shocked to see that his name wasn't always Farrell.
Andy Farrell has been married to his wife Colleen O'Loughlin since 1995.
The pair met as teenagers and had their first child Owen when Colleen was 16 years old.
As a result, Owen was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin.
The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year. They also have three other children, Elleshia, Gracie and Gabriel.
A fans poll has ranked rugby’s five biggest d***heads
We all love to hate. For every force of good there is in rugby union, there is an equal force of bad to provide balance. A yin to their yang. For every hero, a villain.
As much fun as it is to see the sport's most treasured icons succeed, audiences can sometimes take equal pleasure in seeing a star plummet from the heavens and fall to the depths below.
We've ran a poll to discover who, whether it be for their antics on or off the pitch, have developed an unenviable reputation in the game.
Find out the top five below.
#5. Dan Biggar (Wales)
Biggar is the epitome of players you hate until they are on your team.The way the fly-half continues to moan to referees vociferously has seemingly only got worse throughout his career. It got so bad that popular online personality and diehard Scotland fan Glove39 made a video called ‘birdman’ mocking the way in which he always raises his arms in frustration to officials.
Dan Biggar facts:
- Biggar has twice been selected to tour with the British and Irish Lions (2017 & 2021)
- On 7 December 2015, Biggar won the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year Award
- Biggar came through the Ospreys development pathway, having attended Gowerton Comprehensive School in Swansea
- The fly-half has his own routine before kicking goals, which fans now call “The Biggarena” after Los Del Rio’s 1995 hit, Macarena
#4. Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)
A flanker that plays on the edge and never fails to get under the skin of opposition fans. His late hit on Stuart Hogg and foul-mouthed war of words with the Kyle Sinckler during the 2019 Six Nations did him no favours. The sort of player you love to have, but also love to hate.
Peter O'Mahony facts:
- During his career, O'Mahony has captained Presentation Brothers College, Ireland U18, Ireland U20, Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions
- O'Mahony was born in Cork, where he attended Presentation Brothers College
- The flanker captained Ireland at under-18 and under-20 levels
#3. Mike Brown (England)
In his own words, the fullback is a 'marmite player' with fans either loving or hating him. A skinhead who enjoys confrontation is not the traditional mould for an England No15.
Mike Brown facts:
- He has won three Six Nations Championship titles with England and two English Premiership titles with Harlequins
- Having mainly played football and little rugby, he initially wanted to play fly-half
- Brown was an integral part of the England team that won the RBS Six Nations Championship in 2016 and played every match in the 3–0 whitewash of Australia
- Brown married long term partner, fashion designer Eliza Scarlett Woodcock, the daughter of former England international footballer Tony Woodcock, in summer 2016
- He was selected by the general public for the 2014 RBS Six Nations player of the championship award
#2. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
Eben Etzebeth of South Africa during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
The world Cup-winning lock is undoubtedly world-class, but he is also one of the dirtiest players in the sport. If your team has played against him, you will not be a fan. A proper sh**house, but huge biceps.
Eben Etzebeth facts:
- Etzebeth may be 6ft 8in and more than 19st (2.03m/123kg) now but he did not dominate rugby in his early school days, leaving his growing until later in his teens
- In 2016, aged 24, Etzebeth became the youngest player to play 50 Tests for the Springboks in the game against Australia at Brisbane
- The lock was voted South African Young Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013, and was nominated for World Player of the Year in 2013 when the award was won by New Zealand’s Kieran Read.
- Etzebeth’s biceps have a circumference of 19 inches… 48.26cm.
- In 2017, Etzebeth became the 59th player to captain the Springboks in a Test match when he led the side in the match against France at Ellis Park
#1. Owen Farrell (England)
Could it be anybody else? Farrell fits the label “our guy” better than most, meaning you love to hate him unless he’s in your squad. Then you’d go to the end’s of the earth to defend him. The England captain, also known as 'Shoulder boy' for his high tackling, does himself no favours with his poor tackling technique.
Owen Farrell (c) of the Saracens during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Saracens at the Recreation Ground on 17 Oct. Photo: Steve Haag/PPAUK
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