England captain Owen Farrell pulls out of Six Nations ‘to prioritise his and family’s mental well-being’
Owen Farrell will not play for England at the Six Nations in order to prioritise the mental well-being of him and his family.
The Saracens star has captained his country since 2019 and featured at the World Cup in France.
England return to tournament action in February for the Six Nations, a competition they last won in 2020.
However, Farrell will not be made available for selection as he looks to take some time out from international rugby.
"Owen Farrell has decided to take a break from international rugby in order to prioritise his and his family's mental well-being," a Saracens statement said.
"This means he will not be available for selection for the 2024 Six Nations. He will continue to play for Saracens and captain the club. As always, Owen will have the full support of everyone at the club."
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England head coach Steve Borthwick also offered his support for the fly-half, saying: "Everyone at England Rugby is fully behind Owen's decision.
"Since making his debut, he has been an integral part of the England set-up for over a decade, and the demands on elite athletes are extremely challenging.
"He is an exemplary player, captain and leader and always gives his all for his country. It is with typical courage that Owen has made this decision to open up in this manner.
"Together with all of us at England Rugby, I will do everything I can to ensure that he has the support he requires going forward."
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Farrell made his debut for England in 2012 and has since made 112 appearances for his country, scoring 1,237 points.
He has won the Six Nations in 2016, 2017 and 2020 but will miss out on the 2024 edition.
England kick-off their campaign on February 3 against Italy, with France their final opponents on March 16.