Mark McCall, the director of rugby at Saracens, blamed social media and traditional media for distorting the ‘narrative’ surrounding Owen Farrell’s career.
McCall was speaking at a press conference on Wednesday called to address Farrell’s decision to retire as England captain.
Farrell announced on Wednesday that he will not be available for England until further notice, although he will continue to play for Saracens. It is believed his decision is partly due to the abuse he has received from England supporters.
McCall described Farrell’s decision as a ‘wake-up call for rugby’ and said Farrell had been subjected to far more scrutiny than his predecessors as England captain.
“You could say ‘he’s the England captain’, but I’m not sure any England captain has come under the scrutiny that he has,” McCall said. “Very rarely is it positive, and we are talking about someone who is a model professional, who cares deeply about what he does and who he does it with.”
“The person who is portrayed and has been portrayed in the media every now and then over the years is not the person I recognize. A story was created and started, and it has been there for a while.
“There’s only so much anyone can take.”
McCall also cast some doubt on whether Farrell would return to international rugby. “His happiness and well-being are paramount,” he said. “If he wants to come back after a break and it’s something he enjoys and loves, then good for him. If he does not want that in six or eight months, we will support that too.”
Mark McCall’s press conference, as it happened
2:23 PM GMT
In brief
Saracens’ director of rugby came, as expected, to fight for his captain today.
McCall said he was “angry”, that the vitriol Farrell has received was “shameful” and that it is a “wake-up call for rugby”.
He added that neither he nor Steve Borthwick, the England head coach, had persuaded Farrell to change his mind.
There was also the suggestion from McCall that there was no guarantee of Farrell returning to the international squad unless he enjoyed playing for England again.
“The person who is portrayed and has been portrayed in the media every now and then over the years is not the person I recognize. A story was created and started, and it has been there for a while.
“He has been portrayed in a way that does not fit the person people around him know. We ended up where we ended up.
“There’s only so much anyone can take.”
2:11 PM GMT
There was also an injury update from McCall
Farrell himself suffered a blow to the knee last weekend, as well as this weekend’s match against Northampton, but he should certainly be back for the Bulls in the opening round of Europe.
Marco Riccioni is out for “a while” with a neck injury
Eroni Mawi suffered a calf injury that could last a long time.
Tom Willis is unavailable this weekend due to a knee injury.
2:03 PM GMT
‘Other England captains have not undergone the same level of scrutiny’
I don’t know what needs to change. All I’m saying is that we don’t have any control over social media. For me, this started in the mainstream media – not for everyone – and in the story that emerged around Owen. And then there was a pile up on social media.
There are people in the media industry who need to look at themselves.
Yes [beyond criticism of his rugby ability]. Over the years, he’s come to feel like he’s done something much worse than he did. Every single thing that has been picked up and researched isn’t happening to other players. You could say ‘he’s the England captain’, but I’m not sure England captains have come under the same level of scrutiny as he has. Very rarely is it positive, and we are talking about someone who is a model professional, who cares a lot about what he does and who he does it with.
He has been portrayed in a way that does not fit the person people around him know. We ended up where we ended up.
I haven’t thought about it enough to think about when the negativity towards him started. To be honest, it probably started before he got sent away for anything. There has been an unfair story and I don’t know why.
13:59 GMT
McCall continues…
It’s hard to think that far ahead. His happiness and well-being are paramount. If that ultimately means returning to the international community, then so be it. He has nothing to prove. All those caps, being captain, was not enough for some people.
If he wants to come back after a break and it’s something he enjoys and loves, then good for him. If he doesn’t want that in six or eight months, we will support that too.
I certainly didn’t try to convince him to change his decision – and I’m pretty sure Steve Borthwick didn’t either.
13:56 GMT
‘A wake-up call for rugby’
Rugby probably does [need to do something]. This is probably a wake-up call for everyone involved, because there is no way a referee should face what Wayne faced, and there is no way a player (a person) like Owen should face what he faced over an extended period of time. had to endure. time.
He came straight back for the game against Leicester after the bronze final of the World Cup. He said he was glad he did. He has many friends, teammates and staff he trusts at the club. Now that he’s not playing for England in February and March, he can make a plan about what he does in the months when we don’t have games. That’s new for him. But he would like to continue with our season.
It wasn’t the emotional toll of playing a lot that created this – something completely different.
He has great friends at our club – and beyond. I’m sure they will all be there.
13:53 GMT
“I’m angry,” McCall says
Yes [I am angry].
I’m not worried about Europe or the club at all. I’m worried about Owen. We want him to do well and be happy. He clearly wasn’t. I was describing the person I know and I don’t know what he did – honestly – to deserve how he was treated.
As a club we are very careful with social media. Not just for younger players, as this shows.
13:51 GMT
“It’s embarrassing,” McCall added
The person who is portrayed and has been portrayed in the media every now and then over the years is not the person I recognize. A story was created and started, and it has been there for a while.
There’s only so much anyone can take.
It’s remarkable that he played the way he did in the World Cup, considering how he feels. A person who is in charge at this point, yet he and his family have to feel the way they feel.
It is a shame.
He does [get the credit he deserves] from some and certainly not from others.
He trusts the people at the club. The fact that he told us how he felt a while ago shows that.
13:47 GMT
A wake-up call for the fans? McCall continues
I can assume that. Not just social media, to be honest.
It’s not right. You should ask Owen many questions. I can’t tell you why he feels the way he does. Certainly. his happiness – and that of his family – is the most important thing going forward. And he will have the club’s full support in the future, as always.
His happiness comes first – and that of his family. All decisions that allow this [a return to international rugby]that’s the most important thing, and it remains to be seen.
Certainly, we need to make sure we are in constant touch with him. Like Steve [Borthwick] said yesterday that it was courageous and courageous of him to open up. I admire Owen anyway for many reasons, but even more so because he does this.
1:44 PM GMT
McCall speaks
When I knew, it’s not important – and neither are the broader things. I’ve been working with Owen every day for fifteen years, and the person portrayed in the media looks nothing like the person I know. He is a family man, they always come first.
Furthermore, he is a brilliant, caring, supportive teammate and a loyal friend to many. And a very good, decent person. That’s the person I know.
1:43 PM GMT
McCall is here
Incoming updates…
13:39 GMT
Stay with us!
We expect to hear from Mark McCall in just over five minutes.
We bring you all the latest updates here.
1:25 PM GMT
While we wait…
There’s plenty to keep your eyes peeled for on the Telegraph Sport website.
First, there’s yours, which calls for a Genge/Ford double act to fill Farrell’s void. You can read that by clicking here.
There is also the leading sports writer, Oliver Brown, who argues – quite rightly – that Farrell should be the last big name to be plagued by toxic contempt from the sport. You can read that here.
Here’s chief rugby correspondent Gavin Mairs with details how Farrell was pushed to the breaking pointwhile Telegraph Sport columnist Brian Moore explains how the ignorant fans abuse Farrell have failed to separate criticism from hate speech.
To enjoy!
12:53 GMT
Good afternoon
The statement from Saracen’s letter, the tone as harsh as any, the news reverberating around English rugby on an otherwise sleepy Wednesday.
“Owen Farrell has decided to take a break from international rugby to prioritize his and his family’s mental wellbeing,” the club statement said. “This means he will not be available for selection for the 2024 Six Nations. He will continue to play for Saracens and captain the club.
“As always, Owen will have the full support of everyone at the club.”
During the World Cup, Farrell was jeered in stadiums when he appeared on screen or had his name read out during a tournament in which he became England’s record points scorer. As reported yesterday, Telegraph Sport understands that this was one of several factors influencing Farrell’s decision to take an international break, after he also struggled to deal with the fallout from his controversial red card in a warm-up match against Wales in August.
It was a dark day for rugby union – not just in England, but worldwide. Farrell’s announcement comes at a time when officials are being inundated with serious abuse and even death threats. Despite the fact that the sport showed its fantastic side on the field during the World Cup, it is struggling off the field. How many more will follow in Farrell’s place, convinced that representing England and the flak that comes with it isn’t worth the aggro?
This is not a fair criticism we are talking about. There is a line, of which all players are aware, where criticism meets what is essentially bullying, but that line is crossed with alarming regularity – and the England captain has more often than not, inexplicably, found himself in the line of fire stood.
That Farrell is one of England’s most resilient players proves that even the fiercest players have a breaking point. Of course, more attention is paid to it by the public, but can you imagine how Farrell’s children would have felt, watching their father warm up for the World Cup semi-final in Paris, and being booed for a reason? which still doesn’t exist until now? unexplained?
We now await further explanation from McCall – hoping this isn’t the end of Farrell in an England shirt.