Andy Farrell calls for an end to social media 'nonsense' after son Owen's call-up

Andy Farrell has called on British and Irish Lions supporters to rally behind his son Owen following the unexpected decision to bring him to Australia, hoping he can avoid the kind of negative reception he encountered at the 2023 World Cup.

Farrell expressed that he had "no hesitation" in calling up the ex-England skipper after learning that Elliot Daly had to head back home due to a fractured forearm incurred during the match against Queensland Reds on Wednesday.

The Lions are dealing with the blow of losing Daly, who was making a strong case for inclusion in the Test squad, ending his third tour prematurely. Andy Farrell hailed Daly as a "legend" within the upper echelons of British and Irish rugby.

But rather than replacing him with a similar alternative such as Wales’ Blair Murray or Scotland’s Tom Jordan, Andy Farrell has turned to a 33-year-old whose last Test was at the World Cup almost two years ago.

Owen Farrell was booed by England fans during the tournament and became a target on social media, which his father described as a “disgusting circus”, and he stepped back from the international game to prioritise his mental wellbeing before joining French club Racing 92.

A polarising figure, he is now en route to Australia where Andy Farrell wants his prior treatment to be consigned to the past.

“I hope people can get past that. There has been a lot of that nonsense for some time,” the Lions head coach said.

“That was in the past. We all just need to move on and embrace what the Lions is all about and what we have got coming ahead.

“We feel that the timing is right now, that we can all move on and push on, not just with Owen’s career but what we’re trying to achieve here with the Lions.”

Owen Farrell will arrive in Sydney on Friday, bringing with him the experience accumulated during 112 caps for England, whom he captained from 2018 to 2023.

He will be embarking on his fourth Lions tour having made six Test appearances across the 2013, 2017 and 2021 expeditions and will bring leadership, experience and organisation.

However, his ill-fated season at French club Racing 92 was undermined by injuries and indifferent form and he missed the end of the season with a concussion sustained on May 4. He has since rejoined Saracens.

“Owen’s fit or else he wouldn’t be picked. I know that the guys have been keeping close touch with him in regard to that and he’s been training full bore for quite some time now,” Andy Farrell said.

“He’s the right man at this moment in time for us. We know how much he looks after himself and prides himself on keeping in good nick anyway.

“At this stage there are plenty of players who haven’t played for quite some time and experience – knowing what you can do – helps in that regard.”

Saturday’s clash with New South Wales Waratahs has come too soon and the third match in Australia will see Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne take charge.

Blair Kinghorn and Hugo Keenan will make their Lions debuts on the left wing and at full-back respectively.