Owen Farrell break from international duty is ‘only the beginning’ for overworked England stars – Kyle Sinckler

England prop Kyle Sinckler believes Owen Farrell’s decision to take a break from international rugby is “only the beginning” and more established stars could follow suit.

It was announced last week that Farrell, England’s captain and record points-scorer, will sit out the 2024 Six Nations to “prioritise his and his family’s mental wellbeing.”

Farrell was the top-scoring player at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where he led England to the bronze medal, but became a regular subject of debate and criticism among fans and in the media.

Sinckler was also part of the England squad in France and supported his team-mate’s decision – one he believes could cause a domino effect.

"If I'm being honest, it's only the beginning," he told the BBC.

"If you look at the workload the players go through, especially the international players, guys have been in [World Cup] camp for five months, get a week's rest, and then come back in and are playing week in and week out.

"I wouldn't be surprised to be honest [if more players did the same]."

Farrell will continue to skipper Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership and Investec Champions Cup this season and received the “full support of everyone at England Rugby” for his decision.

But Sinckler pointed to a lack of understanding around the pressure involved for a player in Farrell’s position.

"Professional sport is a pressure cooker, but obviously when you're playing for England it's even more heightened, and when you are playing for England in a World Cup even more, and then when you are the captain, and the fly-half, even more so," Sinckler said.

"So I am surprised but not surprised. I will say it is funny to see all the support Owen is getting, but in the same breath those people are the ones who have said certain things about him in the media. So it is quite funny to sit back and see it play out.

"In terms of Owen, he has got to do what is best for him. He's an experienced man, he's got a family, and at the end of the day your health is the number one priority.

"Knowing Faz, I've got a massive amount of respect for him, I've been playing with him for the last eight, nine, 10 years and for him to actually say 'look, I'm not right' then something must be up because that guy will go to battle no matter what.

"At the end of the day he has to do what is best for him. On a personal note, I back him and hopefully he gets the help he needs and the rest he deserves."

Sinckler went on to call for more to be done structurally to help players deal with the physical and mental demands they are put through.

"Definitely it is a privilege to play for your country and it comes with a lot of responsibility, but I think the support system around that could be a lot better,” said the Bristol Bears star.

"At the end of the day, as a player you kind of have to take the rough with the smooth.

"The same people that will be saying to you one minute that you are not doing so well, are the same people when it is going well who are singing your praises. So it comes part and parcel with the job.

"The main thing is having the support system in place because only the players who have been through it, and who are in it, actually understand the pressure that goes with performing week-in week-out.

"Not just in the games, but in training, and the pressure to get your body right and to get your mind right.

"Because at the end of the day, the boys care. Boys want to do the best for their country. No-one wants to go out there on the field and wants to make a mistake or have a bad performance.

"I don't think it has anything to do with the fans, I just think the support for the players, in general, if I am being blunt and brutally honest, could be a lot better."

Sinckler's comments come after Ireland legend and TNT Sports expert Brian O'Driscoll gave his reaction to Farrell's decision on Sunday.

"I know the guy, I played with him back in 2013 [with the British & Irish Lions], he's a really top guy," said O'Driscoll.

"Has he gotten a few things wrong on the pitch over the years? He has, mistimed tackles, but it doesn't mean he's this thug that there's a perception of out there - far from it.

"He's a leader, he's a general, he's a really good guy to hang out with, and I just don't get it. I can't understand how during the World Cup his own fans were booing him. I was at a loss for words with that one.”

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