Farrell close to union debut
Andy Farrell was considered one of the best rugby league players in the world
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Thursday, 07, Sep 2006 10:58
Andy Farrell's long-awaited rugby union debut could come in the unspectacular setting of a Saracens A team game against Harlequins on Monday night.
Farrell left rugby league a legend, but since signing from Wigan in 2005 his impact on the 15-man game has been minimal with injuries confining him to the Vicarage Road stands.
But Saracens boss Alan Gaffney is confident that the 31-year-old will be get his first taste of the code soon, even if this Sunday's Guinness Premiership clash with Bristol has come too early.
"Andy has had another good week of training and everything is going well," said the director of rugby.
"As I said last weekend, it would be a tough ask to throw him straight into a Guinness Premiership match, but we have an A League game on Monday night at Harlequins."
The puzzle over where Farrell might fit into a union team looks like yielding some answers as well as Gaffney revealed that he saw Farrell's future in the back-row.
"At this point in time blind-side flanker is Andy's best position. That's not to say he couldn't play 12 because he could," said the Australian.
Farrell controversially retained his place in England's elite national squad for this year, despite not making any appearances last season such is the expectation surrounding his arrival in the sport.
With the Rugby Football Union part funding his conversion from league, England coach Andy Robinson has been in regular discussions with his Sarries counterparts over the player.