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Rugby Union

Farrell ruled out for two months

20/08/2008

Saracens centre Andy Farrell will miss the first two months of the new rugby union season after sustaining a fractured and dislocated thumb.

The 33-year-old picked up the injury just minutes after coming on as a second-half replacement in Friday's pre-season friendly against Australian Super 14 side Western Force.

England hopeful Farrell, who is looking to force his way into the reckoning under new team manager Martin Johnson, was recently named Saracens' co-captain.

And he admitted the setback, which may keep him out of action until late October, is a major disappointment.

"It's totally frustrating, especially after flogging yourself for eight weeks in pre-season and then just when you start to look forward to the games, this happens," Farrell said.

"Things were going really well. I played out in Bayonne in a friendly the week before, felt in great shape and was looking forward to getting on the field against Western Force.

"I'd only been on a few minutes when I went in for a cover tackle and took the impact on my thumb – as soon as it happened I knew I was in a bit of trouble."

Despite making the switch from rugby league three years ago, Farrell is still adjusting to life in the alternative code – mainly because his development has been interrupted by a series of bad injuries.

He has suffered knee and calf problems in the last two years and was ruled out for his entire first season in union in 2005/06 with a prolapsed disc sustained in a car accident.