Farrell expects talks over Ireland future after Saracens links

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says he expects to “sit down and have discussions” with the Irish Rugby Football Union over his future after being linked with a move to Saracens.

Saracens last week released a statement to distance the club from “disrespectful” reports they had offered Farrell a coaching role after the 2027 Rugby World Cup when his Ireland deal ends.

The English Premiership side said “no offer has been made” after the Irish Independent reported that Farrell was approached with a deal worth more than £1m a year to return to Sarries following next year’s tournament in Australia.

Mark McCall will step down as Saracens’ director of rugby at the end of the season and Brendan Venter will return to the role.

While Farrell admitted he understood why he would be linked with a role at his former club, where his son Owen currently plays, he said it was “people putting two and two together and making five”.

“You’d expect me to say I’m here to concentrate on the Six Nations and what will be, will be in the future,” Farrell said ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations game with Wales on Friday (20:10 GMT).

“I suppose it’s people putting two and two together and making five, with the connections, good friends with the owner, Owen’s there and all of that… So you can see why that has happened.

“I suppose we’ll sit down and have discussions with the IRFU in the near future, that’s for sure.”

Farrell, who played for Saracens as a player after switching from Rugby League, joined Ireland’s coaching team under Joe Schmidt and became head coach after the conclusion of the 2019 World Cup.

Farrell has made five changes from the team that beat England and has named seven Ulster players in his matchday squad for the Wales encounter.

Last year, only three players from the province were named in Farrell’s wider Six Nations squad but an upturn in form this season has been rewarded.

Jacob Stockdale, Robert Baloucoune and Stuart McCloskey will start in the backline, while Tom O’Toole and Nick Timoney – who will make his first Six Nations start – have been named in the pack.

Hooker Tom Stewart is set to get an opportunity to impress off the bench, while scrum-half Nathan Doak will make his senior Ireland debut after being named among the replacements.

“It’s a fantastic news story. It goes to show that if teams are playing well and playing good rugby, they will get selected,” Farrell said.

“We’ve always said that selection isn’t up to us – it’s up to the players to show they are worthy of the spot and the right to get in the room, and then they can show us what they got.