One of the biggest what ifs in rugby league in recent times has been the question of whether or not Owen Farrell will ever come to Super League and specifically the Wigan Warriors.
Farrell is the son of Wigan legend and two time Man of Steel Andy Farrell. He is from rugby league heritage but with his father’s move to union late in his career, Owen Farrell has spent his entire career in the 15 man game when he arguably should have been in line to be a Super League star.
The chances of a move increased after the Rugby Union World Cup but appeared to be dashed when Farrell was linked with a move to Racing 92 only for Racing to deny this.
This left the door open for Farrell to join Wigan where money wouldn’t be an issue. As a rugby union convert, Farrell wouldn’t appear on Wigan’s salary cap in his firth year meaning they could essentially pay him anything.
However, the Racing 92 move has re-emerged over the Wigan.
92 leading the race for Farrell
According to BBC and other outlets, former England boss and now Racing 92 Head Coach Stuart Lancaster has revealed his desire to bring Farrell in.
“He would be a great signing. Who wouldn’t want a player like Owen Farrell?” Lancaster said.
“We’ll see how it plays out. No deal has been done, there is no confirmation of anything for next year. It’ll be me who has the final say on signings.”
“Racing are often linked with key players and I’m lucky my relationships with players from England and Ireland are all part of that, but we’ll see,” he said after his side’s defeat by Bath in the Investec Champions Cup.
“I have signed for four years and what I’m trying to do is build a team that can win this year and a team that’s going to be really competitive over the next couple of years as well.”
Lancaster’s side have been on the lookout for a star name at fly-half after Scotland’s Finn Russell left to join Bath last summer.
He has already signed England wing Henry Arundell and South Africa’s double World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi.
The former England coach, who enjoyed a successful spell at Leinster, joined Racing this season.
