It was two days before England’s Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Ireland in Dublin in August that the first warning sign rang out about Owen Farrell’s true state of mind.

England captain Owen Farrell will sit out the 2024 Six Nations after stepping back from international rugby to protect Farrell will continue

England captain Owen Farrell has announced he will take a break from international rugby and will not be available for the 2024 Six Nations.

George Ford would be favourite to take Farrell’s fly-half role for the Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on February 3, with Marcus Smith also a contender. Borthwick said

England captain Owen Farrell has announced he is taking a break from international rugby. His club side Saracens said he was stepping back from the national side to "prioritise his and his family's mental well-being".