Andy Farrell, head coach of the British & Irish Lions, has disclosed the emotional conversation he had with his son Owen earlier this year regarding the player's selection for the tour to Australia. Owen was initially omitted from the squad announced in May, with his father citing an injury-hit season at Racing 92 as a factor.
In his new book, serialised by The Times, Farrell Snr admitted that he and every other coach favoured picking Owen, but he felt compelled to speak directly to his son first. During the phone call, Owen broke down in tears, stating he did not think it would be right for him, the squad, or his father as head coach.
Farrell wrote: 'Every other coach favoured picking Owen too. Ordinarily, that would have been it: we would have simply named him along with the others. But I knew it was not yet a done deal. I told the coaches I would have to ring Owen first.'
He added: 'When I asked Owen if he would come, he broke down in tears. He said he did not think it would be right for him, for the squad, or for me as head coach. It was a tough thing to hear.'
Owen later joined the squad as a replacement for the injured Elliot Daly, who fractured his arm. He captained the Lions in a midweek match and featured in the second and third Tests, contributing to a 2-1 series victory over Australia.
