"Won't be the same" - Five major rugby stars won't be playing in 2024 Six Nations

The absence of these key players is set to impact the dynamics of their respective teams.

Let's take a closer look at five major stars who won't be gracing the field during this highly anticipated rugby event, each contributing a unique skill set and influence to their teams in previous seasons.

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Farrell, the captain of the England rugby team, has opted for a hiatus from international rugby to focus on the mental well-being of himself and his family. Consequently, he will be unavailable for the 2024 Six Nations selection. 

Nevertheless, Farrell will maintain his role as a player for Saracens and continue to lead the club as its captain.

The captain of the England rugby team faced significant challenges throughout the Rugby World Cup. Fans from both England and opposing nations directed intense hostility toward the fly-half in every match he played. 

The situation escalated to the point where Farrell would receive loud boos whenever he was featured on the big screen or when his name was announced.

The situation escalated to the point where Farrell would receive loud boos whenever he was featured on the big screen or when his name was announced.

“It is with typical courage that Owen has made this decision to open up in this manner. Together with all of us at England Rugby, I will do everything I can to ensure that he has the support he requires going forward.”

Farrell has not set a date for his return to the England team. 

The 27-year-old athlete plans to temporarily step away from the 15-man rugby game to pursue an Olympic gold medal in Paris next year.

He is slated to join the sevens squad, drawing inspiration from Sonny Bill Williams, a Rugby World Cup champion with the All Blacks, who participated in the New Zealand team during the Tokyo 2021 games.

This decision poses a significant setback for Les Bleus, who aim to secure their 11th title, with their latest triumph being the Grand Slam in 2022.

The Wales fullback has revealed that he will not be able to play in the 2024 Six Nations, following his recent move to Japan. Williams signed for Kubota Spears, and admitted that the current fiancial position of Welsh rugby influenced his decision.

"I haven't really spoken to Gats about that [his international future] to be honest," Williams told the BBC. "I spoke to him about leaving and going to Japan and he was OK with that. I won't be able to play in the Six Nations next year, though.

"Some boys in this training camp still don't have contracts. It's a joke and probably one of the reasons I have left. A hundred caps does not pay the mortgage. I am 32 now and have two or three years left, and you need to maximise your earnings in this profession because it is a short career. So I am very grateful to be in the position I am when I know some of the guys are working so hard but don't have jobs currently."

The WRU contract saga reached a fever-pitch during the 2023 Six Nations, with speculation high that Wales would forfeit their match against England as a protest. Williams' move to Japan is an understandable one, as numerous rugby players in Wales are left without contracts and uncertain futures.

Williams was one of Cardiff's highest paid stars, and the club had little choice but to offload the 32-year-old as they face a reported £2million budget cut ahead of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship season.

Curry is set to sit out the entire Six Nations and is likely to be absent for the remainder of the season as Sale has disclosed the necessity for him to undergo surgery to address a hip injury.

The lingering issue has been a concern for Curry since his active participation in England's recent World Cup, where they secured a third-place finish. A consultation with a specialist confirmed that a comprehensive joint clearance is the only viable solution.

Despite being an automatic choice for England when in optimal health, the 25-year-old flanker will have the operation scheduled for the upcoming week after next.

Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Tom has been back down to London to have further extensive x-rays under movement with a different consultant and this is the best thing for him in the short term.”

Lawes has thrown his hat into the ring for the British & Irish Lions' 2025 tour to Australia, despite calling time on his international rugby career following the recent World Cup.

firmly shut down any speculation about reversing his retirement to bolster England's back-row amid a growing injury crisis in the upcoming Six Nations.

The Northampton Saints legend concluded his England tenure with his 105th cap in a semi-final defeat to South Africa in Paris last month, citing a desire to prioritize family time with his wife and four young children.

Addressing the potential of a third Lions tour on Tuesday, Lawes, who played in all five Tests across New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021, expressed, "If I got another Lions call I would probably do that, yeah, yeah. I would get to complete the set, I have done two and doing Australia, which is one of my favourite places to tour, would be cool."

Despite downplaying his chances for the 2025 Lions squad due to the wealth of back-row talent in Great Britain and Ireland, Lawes reflected on his surprise inclusion in the 2021 tour. He recalled being "pretty surprised" at making the squad, especially considering a lack of preliminary emails about his availability.

In the storied history of Rugby's Greatest Championship, exceptional leaders have emerged—warriors of various forms, be they agile half-backs, towering second rows, or fearless flankers.

Our latest quiz invites you to identify those who have captained their nations to Guinness Six Nations glory. It's worth noting that in certain instances, there may be multiple captains from the same year due to factors such as injuries and rotation.

Surnames only will be accepted.