Saracens chief plays down fairytale Owen Farrell return

• Owen Farrell has been linked with  a departure from French side Racing 92 
• A potential Saracens return has been described as 'pie in the sky' 
• Farrell still has a season left to run on his French deal after joining last year 

Owen Farrell has been tipped for a long-term career in coaching, but Mark McCall has described a potential playing return to Saracens for the former England captain as ‘pie in the sky.’ 

Farrell’s debut season with French side Racing 92 has been a frustrating one, with the 33-year-old suffering a number of injury problems.

Racing also dispensed with Stuart Lancaster – the coach who signed him – in February after a poor run of form. 

On Monday, strong reports in France suggested Farrell was keen to leave Paris just 12 months into his two-year deal. 

Saracens, the club for whom he played his entire professional career prior to leaving for Racing, would be a logical destination. 

But on Tuesday, their director of rugby Mark McCall said that was unlikely. 

Owen Farrell has been linked with a return to England after a frustrating season with Racing 92

Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has said Farrell coming back is 'pie in the sky'

‘As far as I know, he’s under contract at Racing and has a year left,’ McCall said of Farrell.

‘There are so many of these stories that come out. There is no point talking about something that is so pie in the sky. It’s better for me not to comment.’ 

Farrell left Saracens at the end of last season following a 16-year stint in which he won multiple Gallagher Premiership and European Champions Cup titles. 

Prior to that, he had taken the decision to step away from international rugby with England – the team he led and won 112 caps for – to prioritise his mental well-being.

Saracens are on the lookout for a new attack coach after they confirmed the departure of Kevin Sorrell. McCall believes that is Farrell’s future destination of travel.

‘I’d be very surprised if he didn’t commit to coaching, to be honest,’ he said of Farrell. 

‘Rugby is in his skin. He’s got a great IQ and a passion and love for it, like his dad. I’d be absolutely amazed if that wasn’t what he wanted to do. 

‘But I can tell you it won’t be him who will be our next attack coach. He’s a player for now and has 14 months left on his contract with Racing.’ 

McCall said he would be surprised if Farrell's long-term future wasn't in coaching rugby

Leicester forward Dan Cole, 38, will retire from rugby at the end of the season

Dan Cole has become the latest former England star to confirm their plans to retire and the Leicester prop will do so at the end of the season. 

The 38-year-old is the second most capped men's player in England history with 118 appearances. He has played 340 times for Leicester, winning four Premierships.

Cole’s ex-England colleagues Joe Marler, Anthony Watson, Danny Care, Ben Youngs, Alex Goode and Mike Brown have also all brought the curtain down on their careers this term. 

‘I believe it's time for the club to kick-on and the right time for me to go,’ Cole said. 

‘As you get older, physically it's definitely harder to carry on and, looking around the changing room, I am 10 years older than most of the guys in there with me. That's challenging as well. 

'‘I don't want to be the old guy, just sat around and hanging on to something for too long.’