"Owen Farrell update" - Five England players who won't play for their country again

Whether through age, fierce competition, overseas moves or changing priorities, opportunities at Test level are becoming increasingly limited.

Here, we look at five players who may have already made their final appearance for England, despite their experience, talent and achievements in the game.

Bath prop Beno Obano has been heavily linked with a move to Bordeaux-Begles, while interest from elsewhere in France could also present an opportunity that is difficult to turn down.

At 31, a move overseas would almost certainly bring his England career to an end under the current RFU eligibility rules. By the time he potentially returned to PREM Rugby and became available again, he would likely be approaching the latter stages of his career.

A spell in France could offer Obano one final major contract, along with the chance to experience a different lifestyle and a new challenge.

Having won only a handful of caps since first being called into an England squad for the 2017 Six Nations, it is possible that we have already seen the last of him in the white shirt.

Tom Willis is another player whose England future appears uncertain, with his move back to Bordeaux placing him outside the selection pool.

His situation is particularly notable given that he had only recently signed an RFU Enhanced Player Squad contract, reportedly worth an additional £150,000, before announcing his departure from PREM Rugby.

He never played a Test after receiving the deal, and the decision to leave may have damaged his standing within the England setup.

Willis remains a hugely talented back-row and, alongside brother Jack, is regarded as one of the best players in his position. However, both brothers appear to have prioritised building successful club careers in France over pursuing international rugby.

Owen Farrell's return to Saracens from Racing 92 in 2025 has not resulted in an England recall, and at 34, the chances of him adding to his international career appear increasingly slim.

Fin Smith has established himself as the leading option at fly-half, while George Ford continues to provide the experience that once made Farrell such an important figure for England.

With more than 1,200 points from over 100 Tests, Farrell sits among the leading points scorers in Test rugby history and remains the record points scorer for both England and Saracens.

Despite his remarkable record, though, it looks increasingly unlikely that he will play international rugby again.

Few players have enjoyed the level of club success achieved by Ben Spencer, yet his international career has never quite matched his achievements for Saracens and Bath.

England now have a growing group of scrum-halves competing for places, with Archie McParland and Lucas Friday emerging as exciting prospects.

Jack van Poortvliet and Alex Mitchell are also established Test options and appear to be ahead of Spencer in Steve Borthwick's thinking.

Now 34, time is running out for the experienced scrum-half. Despite winning five PREM Rugby titles and three Champions Cups during his club career, a return to the England side looks increasingly unlikely.

Nick Isiekwe has remained a regular topic of debate among England supporters, but it increasingly feels as though his opportunities at international level could be running out.

The competition for places in the second row is only becoming stronger. Ollie Chessum is firmly established as one of the leading locks in the game, while Alex Coles and Arthur Clark have also emerged as serious options.

With George Martin set to join Isiekwe and Maro Itoje at Saracens, consistent game time could also become harder to secure at club level.

Still only 28, there is time for Isiekwe to develop further and force his way back into contention, but at present, an England return appears unlikely.