England head coach Steve Borthwick has once again named Owen Farrell as his captain heading into the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France in a huge vote of confidence for the Saracens star.
Farrell, 31, was Borthwick's captain during the 2023 Six Nations, continuing in the role he has held for the best part of five years, but he faced calls as to whether he was the right man for the job earlier this year, as he was struggling to nail down his starting place in the team, faced with the challenge from Harlequins star fly-half Marcus Smith. Borthwick, who replaced Eddie Jones as England head coach in December, backed Farrell then and now looks set to do the same thing heading into the World Cup in a clear signalling of the more pragmatic style of rugby his side look set to play.
Farrell first deputised for captain Dylan Hartley in 2017 and 2018 before being confirmed as captain for the Guinness Six Nations in 2019 and led England to the Rugby World Cup final in Japan later that year. His CV speaks for itself having earned 106 caps, featured in three British and Irish Lions tours and led Saracens to Champions Cup and Premiership success, winning his most recent trophy in May with a victory over Sale Sharks to claim the league title again.
Farrell has been named as one of three stand-offs in Borthwick's most recent 41-man World Cup training squad along with Smith and Sale Sharks' George Ford.
Borthwick said: "I went and met Owen about 10 days ago. We spent two hours walking through fields outside Harpenden, talking about everything we wanted to do with this team. He’s a fantastic leader."
Borthwick has also confirmed that Bristol Bears loosehead prop Ellis Genge and Northampton Saints lock/flanker Courtney Lawes will be England's vice captain's heading into the tournament in France, with Sale flanker Tom Curry missing out on this occasions and Exeter Chiefs hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie ruled out of selection consideration due to a shoulder injury.
Genge captained England for the first time during the Six Nations in a record 53-10 defeat to France at Twickenham but has proven himself as a leader of distinction to Borthwick when the two worked together at Leicester Tigers to turn the club around from being a side edging dangerously close to the relegation zone to Premiership champions in 2021/22.
Lawes also has experience leading England having captained his country at senior level for the first time in 2021 against Tonga, reprising the role several times since.
