Ten years ago Andy Farrell, the Martin Johnson or rugby league at the time, took time off one morning to stand in Wigan and Great Britain teammate Denis Betts's kitchen and talk tactics with me. It was Boxing Day and that afternoon I would be running out at the JJB Stadium (now the DW Stadium) to play for the famous cherry and whites against arch rivals St Helens.
A crowd of 20,000 would be there to watch the drama unfold and I would be making my first (and last) appearance for the team that had dominated league for so many years. Farrell was captain of his club, of England and of Great Britain, a player with points records, appearance records, trophy records and so many Men of Steel awards he could have built a bridge.
Yet there he was, League's Superman, telling me all about what I should do: "Go for it, you'll never get another chance," he implored. "If you get a chance to run, run. Don't be put off by the crowd." And on he went. In all we chatted for an hour before he headed off home to take his boy, Owen, to the stadium to watch the game. (He was carrying a small injury and was being rested). As it turned out "we" won, I got two spells on the pitch totalling 16 minutes and have dined out on the fact that Wigan never lose when I play for them ever since.
Ten years on and Andy's playing career has finished, but not before he crossed the divide to union, won 8 England caps (it would have been more but for injury), and played in the 2007 World Cup. He has since become a successful coach with Saracens and now, at least for the forthcoming RBS Six Nations, with England.
It seems young Owen, now a prolific points scorer with Sarries, is about to play for England, too, and on first impressions gained when we met the other day, he has an old head placed upon young shoulders. Meanhile seven month old Gabriel Farrell will soon crawling around the Farrell home in Harpenden. Owen could drop kick a ball by the age of four. What's the betting Farrell junior will soon be wearing his first rugby jersey?
Owen Farrell was speaking on behalf of Aviva – proud title sponsors of Premiership Rugby, who are celebrating today’s Saracens v Bath match as the 2,000th Premiership Rugby match. For info and offers, visit www.avivapremiership.com/freeshirt.
