Owen Farrell facts for kids
Farrell with Saracens in 2015
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| Birth name | Owen Andrew O'Loughlin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 24 September 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Billinge Higher End, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | St. John Fisher Catholic High School St. George's School |
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| University | University of Hertfordshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative(s) | Andy Farrell (father) Phil Farrell (uncle) Liam Farrell (cousin) Connor Farrell (cousin) Sean O'Loughlin (uncle) Keiron O'Loughlin (grandfather) |
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| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Owen Andrew Farrell (born Owen Andrew O'Loughlin on 24 September 1991) is a professional rugby union player from England. He plays as a fly-half for the Premiership Rugby club Saracens. From 2018 to 2023, he was the captain of the England team.
Owen is known for his excellent goal kicking. He has scored over 1,200 points in more than 100 international matches. This makes him one of the highest point scorers in rugby history. He holds the record for the most points scored for both England and Saracens.
His father, Andy Farrell, is the current head coach for Ireland. Andy also played both rugby union and rugby league for England.
Contents
Owen Farrell's Early Life
Owen Farrell was born in Billinge Higher End, England, on 24 September 1991. He started playing rugby league at age eight for Wigan St Patricks.
When Owen was 13 or 14, his family moved to Harpenden. This happened when his father, Andy, joined Saracens in 2005. That's when Owen first started playing rugby union.
Owen has two younger sisters, Elleshia and Gracie, and a younger brother, Gabriel. Many of his relatives also play rugby. His uncle, Sean O'Loughlin, was a captain for Wigan Warriors. His cousin, Liam Farrell, also plays for Wigan.
Owen studied at the University of Hertfordshire and earned a degree in Business.
Owen Farrell's Club Career
Owen Farrell has spent most of his club career playing for Saracens. He also played for Bedford Blues on loan and for the French team Racing 92.
Starting at Saracens
Owen became the youngest player to play professional rugby union in England. He played for Saracens just 11 days after his 17th birthday in 2008. This record was later broken by George Ford.
Winning with Saracens
In the 2010–11 season, Owen helped Saracens win the 2010–11 Aviva Premiership Final. He scored 17 points in their 22–18 victory over Leicester Tigers.
He was named "man of the match" in a game against Harlequins. Saracens' coach, Mark McCall, praised Owen for controlling the game like a much older player.
Facing Challenges and Injuries
The 2013–14 season was strong for Saracens, but they lost in the Heineken Cup final and the Aviva Premiership Final. Owen also faced an injury that season. He was knocked out during a game and had to be carried off the field.
More Wins and Awards
In the 2014–15 season, Owen won the "man of the match" award in the Premiership Final. He scored a try and kicked 13 points, helping Saracens win 28–16.
The next season, he was named Saracens' Fans' Player of the Season. He scored all 21 points in the 2016 European Rugby Champions Cup Final, which Saracens won. He was also the top points scorer in that tournament. Saracens also won the Premiership title again that year.
In 2017, Owen became Saracens' all-time leading points scorer. He also helped Saracens win their second European Champions Cup in a row. He was named European Player of the Year.
Leading Saracens to More Titles
In 2018, Owen won his fourth Premiership title with Saracens. In 2019, he won the European Champions Cup for the third time. He also won the Premiership for a fifth time that year.
Tough Times and Leadership
In April 2020, Owen agreed to defer some of his wages to help Saracens financially. In September 2020, he was suspended for five games due to a high tackle.
Even when injured, Owen helped his teammates. He became a personal coach for Alex Goode, helping him prepare for games. In April 2021, Owen was named permanent club captain of Saracens.
Injuries and Return to Form
Owen had an ankle injury that kept him out for most of the 2021–22 season. However, he returned for the final. In April 2022, after two ankle operations, Owen helped Saracens qualify for the playoffs. His teammate Jamie George said Owen was like a "head coach" and very important to the team.
Owen helped Saracens win the Premiership title again in 2023. He scored points in the final as Saracens defeated Sale Sharks.
Playing in France and Coming Back
On 22 January 2024, it was announced that Owen signed with the French team Racing 92 after the 2023/24 season. He played for them during the 2024/25 season.
On 16 June 2025, after one season with Racing 92, Owen agreed to return to Saracens. He signed a two-year deal starting after the 2024/25 season.
Owen Farrell's International Career
Owen Farrell has played for England in many international matches.
England Debut in 2012
Owen was chosen to play for England by coach Stuart Lancaster in 2012. His first game was against Scotland in the 2012 Six Nations Championship. He was the youngest player in the squad.
He played as an inside centre and later as a fly-half. He showed great kicking skills, scoring 63 points in five games. He also played in the 2012 summer tour against South Africa.
In December 2012, Owen played against New Zealand. He scored 17 points, helping England win by their biggest margin ever against the All Blacks. He was even nominated for the IRB Player of the Year award.
Success in 2013
In 2013, Owen started in the Calcutta Cup match against Scotland. He helped England get a strong start in the Six Nations and was named "man of the match."
He also scored his first try for England against the Wallabies in November 2013. England won that game 20–13.
World Cup and Grand Slam
Owen missed the 2015 Six Nations due to a knee injury. But he recovered and was chosen for England's 2015 World Cup squad. He played well, scoring many points, but England did not make it past the group stage.
In January 2016, Owen was selected by new England coach Eddie Jones. He played as an inside centre and became one of England's vice-captains. England won the Grand Slam that year, and Owen was the leading scorer with 69 points. He became the second-highest points scorer in England's history, after Jonny Wilkinson.
In the summer of 2016, England won a three-match series in Australia 3–0. Owen played a key role and was nominated for the 2016 World Player of the Year Award.
Captaining England
Owen played every minute of the 2017 Six Nations Championship, helping England keep their title. He scored 26 points against Scotland in a big 61–21 win.
In 2018, Owen captained England for the first time against France. England lost that game, but Owen later led England to a victory against South Africa. He was named co-captain with Dylan Hartley.
2019 Six Nations and World Cup
Owen was the sole England Captain for the 2019 Six Nations Championship. England started strong with a win against Ireland and a big win against France.
He captained England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. England performed very well, reaching the final. They beat Australia in the quarter-final and New Zealand in the semi-final. Owen led England against South Africa in the Final, but South Africa won 32–12.
Owen became only the fourth England Captain to lead and beat all of the "Big Three" Southern Hemisphere teams: Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Post-World Cup and Milestones
After the World Cup, Owen remained England captain. He led England to victory in the 2020 Six Nations and the Autumn Nations Cup in 2020. He was the top points scorer in the Autumn Nations Cup.
In the 2021 Six Nations, England had a tough tournament. However, Owen reached a personal milestone, crossing 1,000 international points in test rugby. He was only the second Englishman to do so.
Injuries and Return in 2022
In January 2022, Owen missed the Six Nations due to an ankle injury. England coach Eddie Jones said Owen was very determined to return and play for England again.
On 19 November 2022, Owen played his 100th game for England against the All Blacks. The game ended in a 25–25 draw.
2023 World Cup and Break
Owen was named England captain for the 2023 Six Nations. He faced a four-game ban in August 2023 for a high tackle during a World Cup warm-up game.
After the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where England finished third, Owen announced he would take a break from international duty. He said he needed time for his mental health. In June 2024, he became ineligible to play for England because he moved to play club rugby overseas.
Return to England Consideration
In June 2025, after re-signing with Saracens, Owen could once again be considered for England selection. However, head coach Steve Borthwick decided to let him settle back into life in England over the summer.
British & Irish Lions
Owen was chosen for the British & Irish Lions squad for their 2013 tour to Australia. He scored a try in his second game and earned his first Lions test cap.
In April 2017, Owen was again named in the Lions squad for their tour to New Zealand. He played a very important role in the series. He kicked a penalty in the second test that helped the Lions defeat the All Blacks 24–21. He also scored the most points of any player on that tour.
In July 2025, Owen was called up to the senior squad for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. This happened after another player, Elliot Daly, got injured.
Owen Farrell's Personal Life
Owen married his girlfriend Georgie in July 2018. They have two sons, born in March 2019 and March 2021.
Despite his success, Owen is a private person. He doesn't like being the center of attention. He once said that being loud and communicating is a big part of his game.
Owen studied for a degree in management and leadership. He wrote a long paper about reflective learning.
Owen supports the Duchenne muscular dystrophy charity Duchenne UK. When he scores points, he links his index fingers together to make a 'JJ' sign. This stands for Joining Jack, a charity that helps people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Career Statistics
List of international tries
| Number | Position | Points | Tries | Result | Opposition | Venue | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fly-half | 15 | 1 | Won | Australia | Twickenham Stadium | 2 November 2013 | |
| 2 | Fly-half | 22 | 1 | Won | Italy | Stadio Olimpico | 15 March 2014 | |
| 3 | Centre | 17 | 1 | Won | Italy | Stadio Olimpico | 14 February 2016 | |
| 4 | Centre | 18 | 1 | Won | Australia | AAMI Park | 18 June 2016 | |
| 5 | Centre | 19 | 1 | Won | South Africa | Twickenham Stadium | 12 November 2016 | |
| 6 | Centre | 16 | 1 | Won | Italy | Stadio Olimpico | 4 February 2018 | |
| 7 | Centre | 13 | 1 | Lost | Scotland | Murrayfield | 24 February 2018 | |
| 8 | Centre | 16 | 1 | Lost | South Africa | Ellis Park Stadium | 9 June 2018 | |
| 9 | Fly-half | 22 | 1 | Won | Australia | Twickenham Stadium | 24 November 2018 | |
| 10 | Fly-half | 17 | 1 | Won | France | Twickenham Stadium | 10 February 2019 |
International analysis by opposition
| Opposition | Played | Win | Loss | Draw | Tries | Points | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 75% |
| Australia | 17 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 217 | 82.35% |
| Fiji | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 80% |
| France | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 119 | 66.67% |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 100% |
| Ireland | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 127 | 69.23% |
| Italy | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 127 | 100% |
| Japan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 100% |
| New Zealand | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 96 | 30% |
| Samoa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Scotland | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 110 | 60% |
| South Africa | 14 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 126 | 28.57% |
| Tonga | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 100% |
| United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Uruguay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 100% |
| Wales | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 53.85% |
| Career | 119 | 80 | 35 | 4 | 10 | 1,181 | 67.23% |
as of 26 July 2025[update]
Owen Farrell's Awards and Achievements
- British & Irish Lions
- 2× Test Series Wins: 2013, 2025
- 1× Test Series Draw: 2017
- England
- Rugby World Cup / Webb Ellis Cup
- Silver Medal: 2019
- Bronze Medal: 2023
- 3× Six Nations Championship: 2016, 2017, 2020
- 1× Grand Slam: 2016
- 3× Triple Crown: 2014, 2016, 2020
- 6× Calcutta Cup: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020
- 2× Summer Internationals Tour Wins: 2016, 2022
- 1× Autumn Nations Cup: 2020
- Saracens
- 6× Premiership Rugby: 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023
- 1× RFU Championship: 2021
- 3× European Rugby Champions Cup: 2016, 2017, 2019
- Individual
- 1× European Player of the Year: 2017
- 3× World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year Nominations: 2012, 2016, 2017
See also
In Spanish: Owen Farrell para niños
