Owen Farrell stepping away from England duty is NOT a one-off example of stars struggling with demands, says the Rugby Players Association, as they insist it is a ‘real issue’ in the game

The Rugby Players’ Association has warned that Owen Farrell’s decision to quit England is not the only example of sports stars struggling to cope with the demands placed on them.

Farrell, the national team captain, said last week that he would not play in next year’s Six Nations and was taking a break from testing to prioritize his mental health and that of his family.

His revelation shocked the English game. But RPA said it was now used to dealing with players who were struggling, especially at the end of a turbulent year.

He insists the RPA will be at the center of ongoing discussions between the RFU and Premiership Rugby about the future of the game’s structure.

“This is not an isolated incident and it is certainly not uncommon,” said Luke Cheyne, head of player development and welfare at RPA.

England captain Owen Farrell announced last week that he would not play in the 2024 Six Nations.

Pharrell has called for protecting the mental health of himself and his family following recent online abuse.

“It becomes more noticeable when we talk about the England captain.

“Much of RPA’s work, especially when it comes to player mental health and wellbeing, happens in a confidential space. But it happens, and that’s what we’re here for.

“For us this is not just a bolt from the blue. We know this is a real problem. This happens quite regularly.

“We have mechanisms in place to support players when they are in a difficult situation and need to take a step back.

“But we also try to be proactive and make sure they can understand what the cause is.”

Farrell was booed during his appearance for England at the World Cup and was heavily criticized online after being sent off against Wales in the summer and eventually suspended.

In the wider context, English rugby lost three teams to the financial crisis last season: Worcester, Wasps and London Irish.

RPA head of player development and welfare Luke Cheyne (pictured) said Farrell is not the only rugby star struggling and noted players are not robots.

“Sometimes I think people can forget that our players are not robots. They’re not just brought in to play on Saturday,” Cheyne added.

“They are people first and foremost, and we must remember that. “There are players who are struggling with different problems. We only need to look at the impact of the past year or so. We lost three teams in the Premier League.

“Things like this only increase the risk to a player’s mental health and wellbeing. You also need to look at life in general and things like the financial pressures that many of us face.

“Professional sports are not exempt from such things either.”

RPA offers its members a 24/7 confidential phone number to call if they are experiencing any difficulties. This project is funded by the official charity arm of Restart.

The Premier League’s planned restart took place last weekend, aiming to raise money to keep it running. As part of the wider Gain Line RPA programme, players receive advice on how to handle social media and can also receive support from their Player Development Managers, who work across all 10 clubs.

Since the confidential telephone service launched in 2008, more than 400 people have used it. Last season alone, more than 40 current and former players, both men and women, turned to RPA for help.

Farrell watched from the stands as his club Saracens faced Northampton on Saturday.

“RPA puts players at the center of all ongoing discussions to ensure they are protected. This is very important because they are critical to the future of the game,” Cheyne said.

“It is very important that everyone involved in rugby takes this into account. I think this is happening. The RPA is now participating much more actively than before, because there is such recognition.

“When a high-profile incident like this happens, I understand why people say more needs to be done in the game. But it is important to understand that the players receive a lot of support.

“We are going to continue to support Owen and everyone else in English rugby.”