Saracens' Farrell sidelined by hamstring problem

Saracens star Owen Farrell has been ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring problem, with the fly-half now set to miss a key part of the club's season.

The former England captain will be absent for Saturday's European Champions Cup last-16 tie away to French side Bordeaux-Begles after suffering the injury in last week's English Premiership defeat by Northampton.

Saracens said Friday that 32-year-old Farrell, England's record points-scorer, had a "minor hamstring injury" which will "keep him out for the next few weeks".

That timeframe would include the Champions Cup quarter-finals, were Saracens to qualify for the last eight, which are staged next weekend.

Friday's announcement could mean club captain Farrell, who will leave to join Paris-based Racing 92 at the end of the season, has played his last Champions Cup game for Saracens after helping the club win the competition three times.

England captain Jamie George will lead the team at Stade Chaban-Delmas in the absence of Farrell, with former Test full-back Alex Goode slotting in at fly-half.

Saracens will be looking to gain revenge this weekend for a humiliating 55-15 loss away to Bordeaux in a pool match in January.

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