Eddie Jones happy for England captain Owen Farrell to play in Championship after signing long-term Saracens deal

Eddie Jones does not fear playing in the Championship will impact his sextet of Saracens players after England captain Owen Farrell confirmed he will be in the second tier next season with a new long-term contract.

Farrell became the latest Saracens player to commit his future with a new deal through to at least the next World Cup in 2023, joining Jamie George, Elliot Daly and the Vunipola brothers Mako and Billy in announcing their intention to stitch with the relegated side next season. Maro Itoje is expected to do the same in the coming days, meaning of the eight Saracens players who were in the original World Cup squad last autumn, six will be retained - Jack Singleton has joined Gloucester while George Kruis will leave for Japan at the end of this season.

“The club means a lot to me,” Farrell said. “I’ve been here a long, long time now and to be sorted going forward is brilliant.

“Most of the senior players are in a similar position. They’d do anything to put us in the best position possible and that was telling during the tough times this year and I’m sure that will be the case going forward as well.”

Saracens have allowed their younger players pushing for England recognition to leave the club on a season-long loan, with Ben Earl and Max Malins heading to Bristol for the year and Alex Lozowski set to play in France’s Top 14 with Montpellier.

But although their more established players will be limited to Championship rugby next season, Jones will have no problem in selecting them for international honours so long as they maintain their form.

“I will be comfortable if they are in good form,” Jones said. “Players who have a track record of Test match success, I have a pretty good idea of where they are and where they need to be.

“My understanding is most of the younger guys at Saracens are moving to other clubs so they will not have the same issues that the older players have. Without wishing to sound too grandiose if I look at Owen Farrell, it does not matter what game he plays. I will have a pretty good understanding of where he is.”

Jones has also spoken with Manu Tuilagi over the last week after the England centre left Leicester Tiger for Sale Sharks following a contract dispute, which ended his 11-year stay at Welford Road, and revealed that he gave him some advice that helped him to decide on a new career path in Manchester - much to the Australian’s delight.

“Manu made up his mind on what he was going to do,” Jones said. “We had a couple of phone calls. We remained in contact the whole time. I gave him a small piece of advice.

“He knew what he wanted to do. He is a valuable Test player. His performance in the World Cup and the Six Nations indicates that there is still more in him. I am delighted by his decision. It is a difficult time for everyone at the moment, but I am glad he has made that decision.”

The 60-year-old admitted that it had been a big enough challenge just to return to the UK after spending lockdown with his wife’s family in Tokyo. During that time, Jones is one of many who have taken a pay cut in excess of 25 per cent at the Rugby Football Union, who have since announced that they will be forced to make 139 staff redundancies following a loss of £107m in revenue.

With that in mind, Jones does not believe the challenges he now faces as England head coach warrant that much sympathy.

“At some stage, I will get told the games, I will get told what staff I can have and what players are available. Then they will make a choice,” he added.

“The reality is you have to keep everything in perspective. Any sort of cuts we have to take as staff and players now you have to look at it in terms of what is happening in society. I feel for anyone who has had a cut. I feel for people who have lost their jobs. We know that is happening at the moment. I think it is just about keeping things in perspective.”