Rugby Union: Farrell Takes Centre Stage

The former Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell will play his first game of union for Saracens at inside-centre, against Bedford on Saturday. But Saracens say a decision on Farrell's permanent role may not be reached for another two months.

Farrell's position has been debated since he was named in England's elite training squad last week despite not having played a competitive union game. He did play for Wigan against Bath in a cross-code challenge match and in the Middlesex Sevens in 1996.

The future of the most high-profile convert from league to union may be influenced by the latest knee injury suffered by his new club-mate Richard Hill. The flanker, injured in the first Lions Test in New Zealand last June, is likely to be out for at least eight months after missing most of last season with a similar problem.

Farrell has recovered from his own knee injury and should make his Premiership debut against the champions Wasps at Twickenham on September 3.

"Wherever I'm picked really," said last season's Man of Steel and Golden Boot winner when asked where he would like to play. "In my old sport I played all over the park and if I start off as a centre in rugby union that's not to say that I'm going to stay there. It's whatever is best for the team and whatever the coaching staff see fit. That's exactly what I've done all my career."

Steve Diamond, who has been appointed director of rugby at Saracens as part of an internal coaching restructuring, said that decisions on Farrell's position will be made in the best interests of the club, rather than England, despite the fact that the Rugby Football Union is helping to pay the player's wages.

"What we don't want to do is mess our team about just for Andy Farrell," said Diamond. "He's joined the club and contrary to what people think he is solely contracted by Saracens and we will do the best for Saracens.

"It's irrelevant what number he wears on his back from set-piece because it's after set-piece when he's going to do some damage for us."

"I feel that I'm very fortunate," said Farrell, 30, of his England call-up. "I've got a long way to go. The squad is only picked on keeping an eye on people, trying to improve people and seeing what they come up with for the England games. I'm not reading too much into it."

However, Taine Randell, Saracens' former New Zealand captain, believes his new team-mate's achievements in league illustrate his potential. "You don't get to play in as many Tests for your country as that without having a few skills," he said of the man who won 34 caps for Great Britain.

"A lot of us watched rugby league on the telly," added the Saracens captain Hugh Vyvyan. "Obviously he's a quality player. All of those skills are transferable across to union so we certainly can learn a few things off him."

"I think it's better to have this guy in your team than against you," said the France fly-half Thomas Castaignède. "He's a very clever man. The hardest for him was the change of rules but after that he knows everything. I'm sure one day he'll be playing for England."

Farrell asked, "what's one of them?" when asked about his familiarity with the union rulebook. "I'm picking things up constantly, " he added.

"I have obviously been doing a bit of homework and trying to read up on things but it's the same as anything else. You don't know if you've actually got it right or not until you start playing the game."

Life has been made easier for him, he said, by the similarity of Saracens' training regime to Wigan's.

"The gap is as close as ever," said Farrell. "Pre-season in both sports is probably much of the same and I just can't wait to get started now and see what rugby union's all about."

The scrum-half Alan Dickens, a summer signing from Leeds Tykes who has trained alongside the Super League-leading Rhinos, said Saracens was the ideal place for a league player to bed in because "down here there's more of a rugby league influence". Saracens' head coach is Mike Ford, the former Wigan and Great Britain scrum-half.

Farrell said he had always taken an interest in union, particularly given Wigan's connections with Orrell. He will not forget his roots, though, after 14 years at Wigan.

"Rugby league has always been my sport," he said. "Wigan will always be my home."

· Conversions... ...and near misses

Jason Robinson Used as a substitute by Sir Clive Woodward before making his mark with the 2001 Lions. His try sent England on their way to victory in the 2003 World Cup final.

Lote Tuqiri There is little good about the Wallabies at the moment, but most of what there is comes through Tuqiri, a powerful wing.

Jonathan Davies When he left Llanelli for Widnes in 1989, few gave the outside-half a chance of success. Within a couple of years he was playing for Great Britain.

Henry Paul Never settled at outside-half with Gloucester, but has proved himself adept at inside-centre. Never given a run with England and suffered the ignominy of being substituted after 25 minutes against Australia last year.

Brad Thorn A second-row in Australian rugby league, he played for the All Blacks in the 2003 World Cup. A couple of inches too short for a union lock, he would have been better tailored to the back row.

Terry Holmes The Wales captain and scrum-half had the physique for league, but was plagued by injuries and never made his mark.