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Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has criticised the \u201cshameful\u201d treatment of Owen Farrell in what he believes should be a wake-up call for the game.<\/p>\n
Farrell will miss the Six Nations after deciding to take a break from international rugby in order to \u201cprioritise his and his family\u2019s mental well-being\u201d, although he will continue to play club ruby.<\/p>\n
The unexpected decision comes after the 32-year-old fly-half led England to a third-place finish in the recent World Cup after losing to champions South Africa by a point in the semi-final.<\/p>\n
Farrell has long been a lightening rod figure in the sport, but the condemnation peaked in August when he was sent off for a dangerous tackle against Wales, a decision that was overturned by a disciplinary hearing only to then incur a ban on appeal.<\/p>\n
England\u2019s captain was frequently booed in France, sometimes with his family present in the stadium, and McCall is impressed that he delivered a series of strong performances despite shouldering a heavy burden.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s remarkable that he played the way he played during the World Cup, if we take into account how he was feeling,\u201d McCall said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is a person who is right on top of his game at the moment, yet he and his family have been made to feel the way they feel. It is shameful. It\u2019s not right.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve worked with Owen for 15 years, every day, and the person that has been portrayed in the media bears no resemblance to the person I know. He\u2019s a family man, they\u2019ve always come first.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a narrative created and started and that\u2019s been there for quite some time. There\u2019s only so much that someone can take.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn top of that, he\u2019s a brilliant, caring, supportive team-mate and a loyal friend to many. And a very good, decent human being. That\u2019s the person I know.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was courageous and brave of him to open up. I admire Owen for many reasons anyway, but even more for doing this.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not worried about Europe or the club at all. I\u2019m worried about Owen. We want him to be OK and happy. Clearly he hasn\u2019t been.\u201d<\/p>\n