Here are your rugby headlines for Thursday, November 30.
Ashton: Farrell most resilient person I know
Chris Ashton has called Owen Farrell "the most resilient person" he knows and has told other senior England players to step up in his absence.
Farrell stunned rugby on Wednesday afternoon as he announced his decision to step away from international rugby for the foreseeable future, ruling himself out of the 2024 Six Nations. The decision is to "prioritise the mental well-being of him and his family".
Farrell has endured fierce social media abuse over the past couple of years after a number of on-field incidents and disciplinary issues. His performances for England have also been scrutinised like no other. Following the news, England great Lawrence Dallaglio slammed the 'sickening' abuse he had received.
READ MORE: Owen Farrell steps away from international rugby in stunning announcement
READ MORE: England legend slams 'sickening' Owen Farrell abuse after shock news
"Owen Farrell is one of the most mentally resilient, determined individuals that I have ever come across. If he is willing to step away from international rugby, it shows the strain he must have been under as England captain," Ashton wrote in The Telegraph.
When looking ahead to the Six Nations, Ashton believes Ellis Genge could be the next one to take the skipper's arm band. He added: "We are not blessed with many of those types of captains who know how to press everyone’s buttons like Owen does. With Courtney Lawes retiring, I think Ellis Genge is next in line. He has a good working relationship with Steve from Leicester and he can set the emotional intensity like Owen does.
"Jamie George and George Ford are also players that Steve trusts and both know how to lead a team. All those remaining senior players will need to take on a lot more responsibility.
"I really do hope that this benefits everyone in the long run. Steve will be able to see how other players cope with that leadership responsibility, hopefully Owen comes back even more refreshed and maybe, just maybe, people can learn to appreciate him as a player and as a captain."
Meanwhile, Farrell's former England team-mate Luther Burrell has praised the Saracens fly-half taking the decision to step away from Test rugby. Burrell, the former Northampton Saint who played with Farrell for England, told Sky Sports: "It did come as quite a surprise, to be honest with you. But upon reflection, it does actually make sense to me.
"A player of Owen Farrell's class and leadership ability, to do this act of courage shows true bravery, and a true testament of his character. But when you look deeper into it, you can almost understand why it's come to this point. He was bombarded with scrutiny, 60,000 fans were booing him in Marseille. Rugby players, we're not robots, we do have emotions, and I think sometimes that is forgotten.
"He has come under such scrutiny in the past decade, and had his game analysed by people behind their keyboards, so I'm not too surprised it's come to this. I'm just disheartened this is the way he's seeing his time away from international duty. If any player has earned a sabbatical, it's someone like Owen.
"My thoughts and cares really go out to him and his family. It has to be a watershed moment."
Indigo Premiership match called off early
This weekend's Indigo Premiership match between RGC and Pontypool has had to be postponed owing to Pooler being unable to field a front row for the game.
The Pontypool front row is a famous institution in Welsh rugby, of course, but the club wrote in a statement they were "frustrated" to announce that the trip up to Colwyn Bay had to be called off due to the volume of players in that specialist position being unable to play. They await the outcome of any further sanction.
"Pontypool RFC are frustrated to announce that the scheduled Indigo Premiership match against RGC this coming Saturday afternoon has had to be postponed," the Gwent club wrote on social media.
"Concurrent injuries and unavailability of a number of specialist front row players mean that they are unavailable for selection for the game. Therefore, after consultation with the WRU, the game has had to be postponed on health and safety grounds. The club would like to acknowledge the disruption this will cause to travel plans for those fans due to travel north with the team this weekend.
"Clearly, having to postpone a scheduled game is not something the club would ever wish to do in anything other than exceptional & unavoidable circumstances. We await the outcome of discussions between the WRU & RGC as to any sanctions or rearrangement of the fixture forthcoming."
RGC replied by writing: "We’re extremely disappointed that this weekend’s proposed fixture against @PontypoolRFC has had to be postponed as they are unable to field a front row. A new date for the fixture will be announced in due course."
Pontypool are currently third in the table with 11 matches having been played. RGC are 10th, but have two games in hand.
Lawes: I'm done with England
Courtney Lawes insists he is "done" with England but would answer a call from the Lions if selected in 2025.
The back-row called time on his England career after his 105th cap ended in a 16-15 semi-final defeat by South Africa in the World Cup. He didn't feature in the third-place play-off against Argentina, which England won.
The 34-year-old has not decided what will happen to his Northampton Saints contract, which expires next year, but he would answer the SOS call if the Lions picked up the phone in 2025.
“If I got another Lions call, I would probably do that, yeah,” Lawes said. “It is two years away and because it is in Australia I would definitely bring them [his family] out for the whole trip. But I might not be playing rugby then, who knows? We will see what happens."
Lawes, though, insists he wouldn't don the England shirt again because he wants to be present for his four children. When asked if he would come out of retirement for England, Lawes replied: “No, I am done to be honest. I didn’t stop playing internationally because I thought I couldn’t play or couldn’t get in the team, I stopped playing because I needed to be here for my family.
“I want to be here for my little ones and that hasn’t changed. I know the back row might have changed a bit but that hasn’t changed. It is my luck we have a back-row crisis when I am actually fit because, normally, I am part of the back-row crisis. I have hung up the old boots.
“My wife did an unbelievable job, as she always does. They are 10, eight and we have got twins who are nearly six so it is all hands on deck. I have got to stick around and make sure I ‘bring them up right’.”
Saints 'desperate' to keep Ludlam
By PA Sport Staff
Northampton rugby director Phil Dowson says Saints are "desperate" to keep captain Lewis Ludlam at the club. World Cup squad member Ludlam has been strongly linked to joining England's playing exodus abroad.
Ludlam, who is currently sidelined because of injury, is thought to be attracting considerable attention from Top 14 club Toulon.
Ludlam's ex-Saints colleague David Ribbans is already with Toulon, while former Harlequins centre Joe Marchant has joined Stade Francais, Jack Willis is at Toulouse and Henry Arundell moved to Racing 92 after the World Cup.
Current Rugby Football Union rules mean that players plying their trade outside England are not eligible for international selection.
In Arundell's case, though, he could be available for the Six Nations later this season after he joined Racing 92 following London Irish's collapse.
"We're desperate to keep him," Dowson told BBC Radio Northampton. "I've seen the reports and it is no surprise to me that Lewis is a very sought-after man. We are trying to put an offer together that is compelling, and we will try and keep him here as our captain."
Ludlam's back-row versatility and experience - he has played in the last two World Cups - would be a loss for England boss Steve Borthwick if he moves to France next season.
If he regains full fitness ahead of the Six Nations, though, Ludlam could realistically play an important part, especially given flanker Tom Curry's season-ending hip injury and Saracens' Ben Earl currently being sidelined due to a knee problem.
