Good on Farrell for putting his family first

OWEN Farrell’s decision to step away from England duty was a surprise, but almost all of the comments we’ve seen are support- of his announcement.

Of course, apart from it being about the wellbeing of his wife and young family, we won’t know the detail unless Farrell goes public with it – so everyone is to an extent speculating. However, mental health is a delicate subject, so you treat it with respect.

Even so, there is already a discussion about the influence of social media trolling on Farrell’s decision, and also the impact of the hostile reception he got at stadiums, particularly during the World Cup.

When I played you got stick from the crowd, and sledging from some players – and sometimes the abuse was serious – but, in my experience, it was up to you and your team-mates how you responded. My attitude was to blot it out, and never to react – but what we did not experience was social media, and getting direct personal abuse from people who find your ‘handle’.

When I was working for the BBC as a pundit the social media comments varied, but some of it was horrendous, and sometimes my family, wife, or friends would see some of it. Overall, I ignored it, rather than get involved and inflaming it. However, it wasn’t easy knowing that they were copping it because of my job – and that brings with it a range of different emotions.

Some people argue that you should leave the social media platform, but others take the view that they will not let anonymous verbal assaults force them into hiding.

Farrell has decided that the magnifying glass being on him playing for England is not what he wants at the moment. When the trolls come in it is scattergun, unregulated, painful, and often so hurtful and emotional that it takes a lot to ignore it. So, one way to deal with it is to remove yourself.