{"id":296622,"date":"2023-11-29T23:27:17","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T23:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=296622"},"modified":"2023-11-29T23:27:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-29T23:27:17","slug":"sir-clive-woodward-i-hope-farrell-sets-tone-and-inspires-new-thinking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/sir-clive-woodward-i-hope-farrell-sets-tone-and-inspires-new-thinking\/","title":{"rendered":"SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I hope Farrell sets tone and inspires new thinking"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I hope Owen Farrell&#8217;s brave decision to step away from England duty sets the tone and inspires new thinking here<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Saracens have confirmed that Owen Farrell will miss the Six Nations\u00a0next year<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>He has taken decision to step away to protect his and his family\u2019s mental health\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>CHRIS FOY: Toxic backlash has taken a toll on the man behind the iron mask<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The first and most important thing is to acknowledge the brave and correct decision Owen Farrell has made to step away from England duty to protect his and his family\u2019s mental health and that we wish them all the best.<\/p>\n<p>It is also with great sadness and disappointment that Farrell\u2019s move comes as no great surprise considering the extraordinary weight his shoulders have been forced to bear and the unjust criticism he has had to face. Only he will know how much influence this had over his decision.<\/p>\n<p>Rugby, sport and society have all come a long way in understanding mental health, but there is still so much more that can be done. Athletes and coaches ask a great deal of themselves.<\/p>\n<p>They put themselves into situations that are, while an utter privilege and filled with joy at times, can also leave you wondering how you will get out of bed some days.<\/p>\n<p>This is not a burden they carry alone. Their families face the same trials and pressures.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/29\/21\/78391993-12806683-image-a-7_1701293394617.jpg\" height=\"426\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Owen Farrell to take a step away from England duty to prioritise his family&#8217;s mental well-being<\/p>\n<p>Farrell is one of England\u2019s greatest ever players. He\u2019s the national captain and the country\u2019s record points scorer. He has had unbelievable success with England, Saracens and the Lions.<\/p>\n<p>But that has not been enough for some. For whatever reason, he has never had the praise he\u2019s deserved. In fact, he\u2019s ended up being criticised a lot \u2014 often personally and unjustly. I wonder whether that has had an impact.<\/p>\n<p>When Farrell was sent off for a dangerous tackle against Wales in the summer and banned for the start of the World Cup, he got things wrong and admitted as much.<\/p>\n<p>He had nothing to do with how World Rugby and then review committees made a mess of the disciplinary process.<\/p>\n<p>Farrell was left exposed, as players often are, and the subsequent targeting of him was way over the top and totally uncalled for. That was summed up when he was booed at the World Cup. For a player who has given so much, that was unforgivable.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the recent World Cup, Farrell, England and Saracens have faced a difficult period on the field over the last four years.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/29\/15\/78376775-12805399-image-a-11_1701271548740.jpg\" height=\"426\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The RFU and other international sides should look at Farrell\u2019s situation with real concern\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Saracens were relegated amid the salary cap scandal. England underperformed and then there was Eddie Jones\u2019s departure less than a year before the World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>For a talismanic leader and the face of England rugby, I\u2019m sure it was a lot for Farrell to deal with \u2014 especially compared to the previous four years that were filled with Grand Slams, Lions series victories, three Champions Cup wins and a World Cup final.<\/p>\n<p>I hope, with the decision made and the outpouring of support he has received, Farrell can now look ahead with new-found freedom. I hope Farrell sets the tone and inspires new thinking in this area. Why is taking a sabbatical not more common?<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s be brutally honest. There is nobody at the RFU who would have a clue how to help or advise Farrell when he needs it most. No doubt they will blame others \u2014 especially the media \u2014 and create another nameless committee to investigate and put forward their thoughts with zero accountability.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Farrell will probably be left to work it out for himself. That is so wrong. The RFU and other international sides should look at Farrell\u2019s situation with real concern but as an opportunity to better support players.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/29\/21\/74301381-12806683-Farrell_was_sent_off_at_Twickenham_on_Saturday_for_a_high_tackle-a-6_1701293380300.jpg\" height=\"427\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Farrell was sent off at Twickenham in August for a high tackle on Wales&#8217; Taine Basham\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The world\u2019s best businesses build sabbaticals into their HR processes as paid leave. Why not rugby?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve always been a huge believer in, and a backer of, Farrell. I have maintained he should be England\u2019s leading light, but always from No 10 and not 12.<\/p>\n<p>He is going to continue to play for his beloved Saracens and I really hope this is not the last we\u2019ve seen of him at Test level. Here\u2019s hoping the break does him the world of good and he can return to the international game when he\u2019s good and ready.<\/p>\n<p>Andy Farrell is hotly tipped to lead the 2025 Lions to Australia. Oh, how I would love to see his son make one more tour alongside his father.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/rugbyunion\/article-12806683\/SIR-CLIVE-WOODWARD-hope-Owen-Farrells-brave-decision-step-away-England-duty-sets-tone-inspires-new-thinking-here.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I hope Owen Farrell&#8217;s brave decision to step away from England duty sets the tone and inspires new thinking here Saracens have <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/sir-clive-woodward-i-hope-farrell-sets-tone-and-inspires-new-thinking\/\" title=\"SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I hope Farrell sets tone and inspires new thinking\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":296621,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - 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