Former England winger Chris Ashton has praised Owen Farrell for making the move to Racing 92 and believes it's the right time for the fly-half to join the club.
The England international, capped 112 times for his country, will move to France to join the French club when his contract with Gallagher Premiership club Saracens expires at the end of the 2023/24 season, and Ashton told Gambling Zone that he thinks it's a wise move for the 32-year-old.
"I think it’s a really good move for Owen." Ashton said.
"He is joining a massive club in Racing, and I don’t think it will be as much of a culture shock as it would have been if he moved to the south of France. There are a lot of English speakers at Racing, so he won’t feel too far away from home.
"He will have to get used to the language. He will have to get used to communication with the French players. It was a lot easier for me when I played in France because of my position, but when you play at fly half you have to communicate with everyone. He is in the game constantly, so he will have to immerse himself in that part of it, whereas when I was on the wing, I could get away with learning a few different calls that helped me in my position but at fly half you need a relationship with everyone.
"The fly-half role is very different because it is a role that requires constant communication. I’m sure Owen will throw himself into it. It’s a good time for him to make this move. He has played so well for Saracens for so many years and has given it a real go with England at two World Cups. If he goes there and wins the Champions Cup with Racing, then I think he could be thought of in the same vein as Johnny Wilkinson. Johnny went to Toulon and won three Champions Cups.
"If Johnny hadn’t done that, he would have retired from the game without any sort of club legacy. He was always amazing for England and, obviously won the World Cup, but it was only when he was at Toulon that his club form was exceptional and he started to win club titles."
Farrell stepped away from international rugby in the wake of England's third-place finish at last year's Rugby World Cup, and now the decision to move to France means he will not be able to play for the national team under current RFU regulations.
Live on DAZN: Super Bowl LVIII on February 11 (exc. US and China). Click here for details.