Despite being England’s inspirational captain, Owen Farrell does occasionally hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
His fiery and competitive nature, which has often driven him to lead his team to victory, can sometimes spill over into controversial moments.
While he’s renowned for his incredible dedication to the game of rugby and his leadership skills, Farrell’s on-field aggression has led to some notable clashes that have generated media attention.
1. Farrell vs Schalk Brits, 2013
In the Lions’ tour opener in Hong Kong, there was an incident where British & Irish Lions fly-half Farrell was seen clutching onto Schalk Brits at the ruck, which led to a notable scuffle.
This act of Farrell holding onto Brits did not sit well with the Barbarians’ hooker, who expressed his displeasure through a punch. This retaliatory action resulted in the 32-year-old Barbarians hooker being subsequently suspended for three weeks.
It was during a match that saw the Lions secure an impressive victory, with a final score of 59-8 in favor of the Lions on that Saturday.