Farrell blow hits Saracens

Editor

Saracens will be without fly-half Owen Farrell for the early rounds of the Premiership season after it was confirmed he has a back injury.

Director of rugby Mark McCall revealed that although the problem “is not serious”, it will rule out the England international for a short spell.

“Owen has a little bit of a back niggle but it’s nothing serious,” he told Press Association Sport, with the new campaign starting next week.

“We’ll have to see how it is at the start of next week.

“It isn’t related to the England tour. It’s something that has been picked up in the last five weeks. We don’t expect him to miss too much though.”

With Charlie Hodgson retiring at the end of last year’s double-winning campaign, new signing Alex Lozowski is set for game-time at his new club.