“We clicked straight away. I think he’s enjoyed it because I’ve given him I don’t know how many walk-in tries!”
If there is one thing Finn Russell is regretting during this stay-at-home period of the halted rugby season it is not seeing more of Paris when he had a chance. The Scottish international joined House of Rugby this week and made a vow to get out and see more of the place whenever movement restrictions are eased by the French government.
Russell has been at Racing 92 since the summer of 2018 but, such is his focus on rugby, he admits he has not soaked up enough sights and sounds of Paris. He has settled into his rugby well and was part of another promising trophy hunt until the Top 14 and Champions Cup came to a long break in play.
Week eight of remote recording for Baz & Andrew’s House of Rugby saw Russell join us to chat with Barry Murphy and Andrew Trimble.
Before the break in the season, Russell was training and playing with Ireland internationals Donnacha Ryan and Simon Zebo. He struck up a fast friendship with Zebo, his backline buddy, who he jokes about teeing up a slew of easy tries for.
The outhalf is also working closely with Racing’s attack coach Mike Prendergast. The former Munster scrumhalf is highly regarded in France after Racing snapped him up from Stade Francais.
During the show, Russell talks about how a stint in New Zealand influenced his career, his playing style and his hopes to get back involved with Scotland, and make the Lions squad, when rugby returns. Also discussed on the show:
- How former Munster star Jason Holland has been influential to Finn’s game
- Finn’s half-time speech when Scotland made a stunning comeback against England
- We catch up with Ireland Women’s star Hannah Tyrrell, who is backing the Sunrise Appeal for Pieta House
- Classic movie (Interstellar), album (In Between Dreams by Bon Jack Johnson) and match (Leinster vs. Ulster, 2013 PRO12 Grand Final) reviews.
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Racing 92, Scotland and Lions star Finn Russell joins House of Rugby from Paris. He talks about his playmaking drive, Racing’s stacked backline and The Last Dance. We hear from Hannah Tyrrell and Trimby admits some hard truths about Ulster’s PRO12 Grand Final loss to Leinster.
