More than 10,000 rugby fans have hit Google to find out whether former England captain Owen Farrell could make a shock international switch and turn out for Ireland in the years ahead.
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This speculation likely arises from his father, Andy Farrell, coaching in Ireland and Owen’s original surname. To date, there have been thousands of searches asking ‘is Owen Farrell Irish?’ and other similar queries.
Andy Farrell has been married to his wife Colleen O’Loughlin since 1995.
The pair met as teenagers with the high school sweethearts have their first child Owen when Colleen has only just turned 17 years old.
As a result, Owen was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin, which some will know is a famous name in rugby league circles.
The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year. They also have three other children, Elleshia, Gracie and Gabriel.
The surname O’Loughlin was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.
However, although Farrell certainly has plenty of Irish DNA, he wouldn’t be able to play for Ireland as his Grandad Kieran O’Loughlin, who was a prominent rugby player in the 70’s and 80’s, was born in Wigan and not Ireland.
Under current rules, a player can change to a new country once, provided they or their (grand)parents were born in the new country. A stand-down period of three years applies and a transfer is subject to approval by the World Rugby Regulations Committee.
So is Owen Farrell Irish? Yes. Can Owen Farrell play for Ireland? Probably not.
When asked recently if he’d ever consider swapping nations, Farrell bullishly responded ‘absolutely not’.
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EDITORS PICKS:
“2/10” – Six England players who flopped vs Scotland – who should replacement
Here are six England players who flopped at Murrayfield – and who should replace them.
Fraser Dingwall – Exposed in Midfield
Telegraph 3 | Rugby Pass 4
What they said
Telegraph: “A match where his limitations were exposed opposite a Test Lion. England were cut apart too easily in the midfield.”
Rugby Pass: “Like every outside England back, Dingwall was totally neutered by a rampant Scottish defence.”
Planet Rugby: “So often seen as the key link player in this attack, but struggled to really shine with his side’s attack stifled. “
England’s midfield looked alarmingly porous, and Dingwall struggled badly against elite opposition. Defensive frailties and a lack of cutting edge in attack left England blunt in the 13 channel.
Replacement: Ollie Lawrence
Henry Arundell – Indiscipline Proves Costly
RUCK 2 | Express 2 | Telegraph 2 | Rugby Pass 2
What they said
Rugby Pass: Yellow carded for not releasing after scrambling to prevent a try, with England conceding 14 points while he was off. Scored, but his second yellow – and red – for taking Kyle Steyn out in the air was hugely costly.
Telegraph: “Test rugby can be brutal. Two moments of mistiming and two yellow cards which cost England the game.”
Express: “Hat-trick hero last week, brainless red card villain this week.”
RUCK: Two yellow cards in the opening 40 minutes is simply unacceptable at this level.
From hero to villain in seven days. Arundell’s finishing instinct remains sharp, but his discipline handed momentum – and ultimately the match – to Scotland.
Replacement: Ollie Hassell-Collins
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