Farrell set for immediate Saracens return with Friday night showdown vs Newcastle Red Bulls

Owen Farrell is set for an immediate return to English club rugby and a second Saracens debut against Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday night. The 34-year-old rejoined his boyhood club this summer after an injury-interrupted campaign in France with Racing 92, and his late call-up to the British & Irish Lions tour of Australia came after he had recovered from a concussion that hampered the end of his time in Paris. With England’s leading Lions stars, such as Maro Itoje, not featuring in the new Premiership season until round three under welfare guidelines, Farrell’s limited game time in 2025 means he will walk straight back into Saracens’ side at Kingston Park for the opening weekend.

"He’s been back in training with us for the past five weeks and is available," Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said of Farrell. "He’s been superb and great around the younger players by giving his time." Farrell is a Saracens icon and helped the London club to six English domestic league titles and three European crowns in his first spell. His return to McCall’s squad signals a fresh chapter for both club and player as they pursue domestic and European glory this season.

Farrell’s second stint with Saracens will begin against a Newcastle side buoyed by the Red Bull takeover. Newcastle won just two league games last season, but one of those was a 17-12 home success over Saracens in November, a result that underscored the challenge facing the defending champions as they start the campaign. Farrell stepped away from international rugby after the 2023 World Cup, first for mental health reasons, and he was unable to play Tests while with Racing due to being based abroad. His return, however, makes him available to national coach Steve Borthwick, though Farrell was not selected for England’s first training camp of the season.

"They’re a club on the up with a real feelgood factor. They’ve made some smart signings and we know how tough it is to go up there," McCall said of Newcastle, who will try to translate the new ownership energy into results against their former foe.

In other injury developments, England captain Maro Itoje is back in full training with Saracens after recovering from a concussion suffered at the end of the Lions tour, but he won’t be in action until mid-October. The same timeline applies to centre Elliot Daly, who broke an arm in Australia this summer and must receive the all-clear from a consultant before returning to the field. Daly’s fitness—along with Farrell’s conditioning—will be monitored closely as Saracens seek to balance Premier League readiness with long-term health.

"You don’t want to bring people back too soon," McCall said of Daly, noting that the decision rests on medical clearance. "As soon as he gets the all-clear from the consultant, he’ll be able to start playing."

Wales back and two-time Saracens star Liam Williams has joined Newcastle for the season, but he is unlikely to feature against his old club on Friday while he relocates to the north east this week from his home near Cardiff.

The weekend’s fixture will test Saracens’ ability to reintegrate a high-caliber, match-hitness player into a squad that remains built around a core of homegrown and long-serving personnel. Farrell’s arrival also serves as a signal of Saracens’ intent to blend experienced leadership with youth as they pursue both Premiership and European ambitions in a crowded schedule. As the league and clubs adjust to welfare protocols governing frontline players, Farrell’s fitness will be watched closely by fans, pundits, and opponents alike as the season opens in earnest.