Owen Farrell’s inclusion in this summer Lions tour has sparked huge debate since it was announced that the former England International would join up with the squad to replace the injured Elliot Daly.

Farrell, 33, has been a part of three previous Lions tours dating back to 2013 and has had an illustrious career with Saracens, winning three Champions Cup, six Premiership titles and a Grand Slam as well as a World Cup final with England.

It’s not outrageous to say that Farrell is one of the best English players of all time and has been one of the best British and Irish players in the last decade. However his major dip in form since 2023 and now inclusion in the Lions squad has caught the ire of many.

Owen Farrell while on Lions tour in 2013 Pic: David Rogers/Getty Images)

Farrell had by far the worst season of his career just gone as he had a disastrous spell in Paris with Racing 92. Now, the French Top 14 is one of the toughest leagues to play in the world, with any team able to beat anyone on their day and the season running on from early September to late June.

However Racing and Farrell had a particularly horrid time in 2024/25. Racing and their star-studded squad languished in the bottom half of the Top 14 table for much of the season and Owen Farrell missed out on most of it as he dealt with numerous injury issues.

Racing’s decline would ultimately see coach Stuart Lancaster get dismissed in February, freeing him up to take the Head Coach gig at Connacht. Farrell would also cut his contract with Racing short and make a return to Saracens ahead of next season.

Owen Farrell during his time at Racing 92 Pic: Franco Arland/Getty Images

His inclusion has been the source to a lot of outrage online and it seems that a lot of people don’t agree with Andy Farrell’s decision to include his son, including an ex-Lion test starter Dan Biggar. Biggar spoke with Sky Sports about the decision and made his voice clear that he doesn’t think it makes sense for Owen Farrell to be brought in as a replacement for utility back Elliot Daly.

‘I mean it’s big news and I’m struggling to get to grips with the sense of it. I mean no one is doubting the amazing character and amazing player with the career he has had but he hasn’t played test rugby in over two years. He hasn’t played any kind of competitive rugby in the last couple of months, eight or nine weeks and the person he’s replacing he doesn’t play any of the same positions.

‘I’m just struggling to get to grips of where the sense of it is. Is Andy Farrell missing some leadership in amongst the team? Does he need some strong characters? Does he think that if it’s a drawn series going into the final weekend he needs people who have been there and done it before?’

Dan Biggar during the first test of the British and Irish Lions tour match in South Africa Pic: Ashley Vlotman/Sportsfile

Biggar also highlighted what effect this could have on the other fly-halves on tour. Scot Finn Russell is still expected to be a test starter barring injury but the likes of Marcus Smith and Fin Smith could feel that their spot is in jeopardy following Farrell’s call-up.

‘I have to say it smacks a little bit for me of a lot of risk in this play and not a huge amount of reward in terms of you have Marcus and Fin Smith in there, where do they feel they sit in the pecking order? Or when they go an close the bedroom door and turn their lights off at night what are they thinking? Are they thinking ‘Oh he’s coming in to replace me?’

‘There’s lots of options in those positions and it just feels like to me that it doesn’t really make sense.’

For a decision that could ultimately become meaningless to the result of this tour, there’s an awful lot of debate about it. Owen Farrell could end up not starting any test and no one would bat an eye. He’s clearly not in his best form but the leadership and winning mentality he provides could be beneficial to this side.

Farrell is also now the only member of the squad who knows what it is like to win a Lions tour, having done so in 2013 the last time the Lions toured Australia. While there’s a few that experienced the drawn series in New Zealand four years later, most of the squad either have none or losing experience as a Lion.

No matter what Owen Farrell will go down as an all-time great and his legacy will only be strengthened by his inclusion in this tour.