Owen Farrell could have the same effect on French rugby as World Cup winning fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, says former England head coach Stuart Lancaster.
Saracens fly-half Farrell is expected to have a medical next week at Racing 92, where Lancaster is now head coach.
He has agreed a two-year deal to join the Parisians next season.
“I can’t help but look at Jonny Wilkinson at the same time of his career and what Toulon did for him,” said Lancaster.
“Owen is 32, and there’s plenty left in him I’m sure.”
England international Farrell, who is taking a break from international rugby to “prioritise my mental wellbeing”, has spent his entire professional career at Saracens.
He was given his England debut by Lancaster in 2012.
Wilkinson, who kicked the decisive drop-goal when England won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, was aged 30 when he moved to Toulon in 2009 after 12 years at Newcastle.
He went on to become a cult hero on the Mediterranean coast, winning the Champions Cup twice and being named European player of the year.
His final act was to win the Top 14 as Toulon fans sang God Save the Queen at the full-time whistle.
Farrell will be going some to match that, but the 112-cap England international joins a strong side leading the Top 14, which includes South Africa’s double World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi.
And Lancaster, who led England as interim coach in 2011 before taking charge permanently in 2012 up to the 2015 World Cup, says the reaction of French fans so far has been one of “genuine surprise”.
“Siya was the first to come and say ‘what a great signing’,” Lancaster said.
At Racing, Farrell will follow other star fly-halves such as All Blacks’ Dan Carter and, more recently, Scotland’s new co-captain Finn Russell.
Lancaster joined last year, after seven seasons with Leinster. He’s enjoyed the experience and thinks the move will aid Farrell’s mental health.
“Everything is different,” he said. “I’m coming from Leeds and Cumbria, it’s invigorating. That will be good for him.
“He doesn’t have to be captain, but enjoy the experience, with his family. He’s not coming to dominate and be the captain.
Racing’s English influence extends beyond Lancaster, with former England wingers Christian Wade and 21-year-old Henry Arundell, the latter spurning a future with the national side, for now, after the collapse of London Irish. Arundell cannot play for England as Rugby Football Union rules do not allow players based abroad to be selected.
Lancaster says Arundell was “super excited” to learn of Farrell’s signing. That is despite reports of a training ground incident between the two players at the Rugby World Cup, which Lancaster says “was overblown”.
“Henry is lucky, he has got lots of mentors already,” Lancaster said.
“It was a big decision for Henry, as you know, to stay here. He is playing against Toulouse on Sunday night, prime time TV, 18,000 people sellout, so Henry is getting really challenged on the back of a young playing profile.
“Players like Siya Kolisi and Owen, I don’t know how you get better role models.”
