9 h. ago Lions name strong team to face Brumbies as preparations ramp up for first Test

Majority of leading names selected by Andy Farrell for Canberra gameFirst-choice pairing of Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park reunitedAndy Farrell has picked his strongest British & Irish Lions combination so far for his squad’s penultimate fixture before they take on Australia in Brisbane next week. The majority of the Lions’ leading names have been selected to start against the ACT Brumbies in what is clearly being seen as a dress rehearsal ahead of the first Test.The first-choice pairing of Finn Russell and Jamison Gibson-Park are reunited at half back inside an all-Irish centre pairing of Bundee Aki and Gary Ringrose, with Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn at full-back and the Anglo-Irish combination of Tommy Freeman and James Lowe on the wings. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Bridge of Allan rugby star makes perfect start in Lions shirt for Aussie tour

Finn Russell has been busy orchestrating the famous select side as they took on a pair of domestic sides in Australia.

Politics

6 d. ago Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors discover Champions Cup foes as Finn Russell and Co lurk

Some blockbuster ties await Scottish clubs in next seasons competition

Events

7 d. ago Gavin Henson makes Owen Farrell Lions call after spotting problem with Finn Russell

Wales icon Gavin Henson says the starting fly-half for the first Test is the biggest call for Andy Farrell.

Politics

8 d. ago Don’t know how funny that gag is – Sione Tuipulotu laughs off ‘Aussie’ dig

Western Force’s stadium announcer introduced the British and Irish Lions’ four southern hemisphere-raised players by the countries of their birth.

Politics

1 week ago Finn Russell among four Scots picked to start Lions next match as decision made on Huw Jones

Andy Farrell names his starting XV to face Western Force

Politics

1 week ago British Lions team: New captain picked with wonderkid to start first match in Australia

The British and Irish Lions will be led by captain Dan Sheehan for their first match in Australia with Henry Pollock and Finn Russell starting against the Western Force

Politics

1 week ago Finn Russell identified as Lions’ ‘danger man’ ahead of clash with Western Force

Kurtley Beale sees Ikitau and Suaali as keys to Wallabies’ hopesAustralia back says he learned from infamous slip in 2013 seriesFormer Wallabies back Kurtley Beale has singled out Finn Russell as the biggest threat to Australia’s prospects of victory against the visiting British & Irish Lions. Beale, a leading figure in the 2013 Lions series, has also warned his compatriots to brace themselves for a “juggernaut” of a rugby experience when the tour kicks off this Saturday.Beale’s infamous slip as he went to kick a potential match-clinching penalty in the first Test in Brisbane had a key bearing on the outcome 12 years ago. But the 36-year-old now believes Russell holds the key to the forthcoming series. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Kurtley Beale picks out Lions’ ‘danger man’ Russell as biggest threat to Australia

Former Wallaby sees Ikitau and Suaali as hosts’ keysAustralia back says he learned from slip in 2013 seriesThe former Wallabies back Kurtley Beale has singled out Finn Russell as the biggest threat to Australia’s prospects of victory against the visiting British & Irish Lions. Beale, a leading figure in the 2013 Lions series, has also warned his compatriots to brace themselves for a “juggernaut” of a rugby experience when the tour kicks off this Saturday.Beale’s infamous slip as he went to kick a potential match-clinching penalty in the first Test in Brisbane had a key bearing on the outcome 12 years ago. But the 36-year-old now believes Russell holds the key to the forthcoming series. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Beale picks out Lions’ ‘danger man’ Russell as biggest threat to Australia

Former Wallaby sees Ikitau and Suaali as hosts’ keysAustralia back says he learned from slip in 2013 seriesThe former Wallabies back Kurtley Beale has singled out Finn Russell as the biggest threat to Australia’s prospects of victory against the visiting British & Irish Lions. Beale, a leading figure in the 2013 Lions series, has also warned his compatriots to brace themselves for a “juggernaut” of a rugby experience when the tour kicks off this Saturday.Beale’s infamous slip as he went to kick a potential match-clinching penalty in the first Test in Brisbane had a key bearing on the outcome 12 years ago. And the 36-year-old now believes Russell holds the key to the forthcoming series. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago 'Lionel Messi of rugby' looks to settle scores after Joe Marler refusal and 2021 Lions woe

At 32, and at the peak of his considerable powers, the stars seem to be aligning for this prodigious talent of Finn Russell to deliver a career-defining summer of rugby

Sport

2 w. ago Finn Russell says Andy Farrell helped put any tension with Johnny Sexton to bed

Sexton has previously been critical of Russell.

Events

2 w. ago Finn Russell signs new contract at Bath following Premiership final win

Russell was integral to Bath’s success at Twickenham last weekend

Politics

2 w. ago Lions team to face Argentina named as two Scots make starting XV with two more on bench

Four Scots in matchday 23 but Finn Russell left out

Politics

2 w. ago Lions coach Johnny Sexton opens up on tension with Finn Russell before tour

Johnny Sexton has spoken about the tension between him and Finn Russell, now that he is coaching the Scotland fly half on this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour.

Events

2 w. ago Johnny Sexton insists he is ‘here to help’ Finn Russell despite past Lions criticism

Russell included in 2021 Lions squad as Sexton omittedLions assistant coach says issue ‘blown out of proportion’Johnny Sexton has insisted he is “here to help” Finn Russell in his capacity as British & Irish Lions assistant coach, after the pair shook hands and cleared the air last month following the former Ireland captain’s previous criticism of the Scotland fly-half.Sexton toured with the Lions in 2013 and 2017 but was a surprise omission from Warren Gatland’s squad in 2021. In his autobiography, the former Ireland captain revealed how the snub “kills me to this day” and described Russell as a “media darling” before suggesting in a subsequent interview that he was “flashy”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Finn Russell in gentle British & Irish Lions intro but one Scot remains absent

Stand-off travels to Dublin after title-winning exploits for Bath at Twickenham

Politics

3 w. ago Finn Russell savours Bath win as he looks forward to Lions test

Fly-half relishes end to his 10-year wait for a league title before switching focus to British & Irish Lions challengeHad Handré Pollard done his homework he might have known what was coming. For Finn Russell has previous with intercepts when attacking Twickenham’s south stand. It was playing that way that he picked off Owen Farrell’s pass before streaking clear in the madcap 38-38 draw between England and Scotland in 2019. And he was at it again on Saturday, coming up with the decisive moment in Bath’s dogged Premiership final victory over Leicester.On this occasion he did not finish off the try himself – you suspect he probably could have – instead flinging a nonchalant pass inside to the onrushing Max Ojomoh. In a final short on champagne moments, it put the fizz in Bath’s performance, extending their lead to 20-7 before a second penalty of the match proved pivotal in ensuring the 29-year wait for a Premiership title was over. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago ‘A special moment’: Russell revels in Bath glory as focus turns to Lions

Fly-half relishes end to his 10-year wait for a league title before homing in on British & Irish Lions challengeHad Handrè Pollard done his homework he might have known what was coming – for Finn Russell has previous with intercepts when attacking Twickenham’s south stand. It was playing that way that he picked off Owen Farrell’s pass before streaking clear in the madcap 38-38 draw between England and Scotland in 2019. And he was at it again on Saturday, coming up with the decisive moment in Bath’s dogged Premiership final victory over Leicester.On this occasion he did not finish off the try himself – you suspect he probably could have – instead flinging a nonchalant pass inside to the onrushing Max Ojomoh. In a final short on champagne moments, it put the fizz in Bath’s performance, extending their lead to 20-7 before a second penalty of the match proved pivotal in ensuring the 29-year wait for a Premiership title was over. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Bath’s treble win blends yesteryear charm with the recently unthinkable | Michael Aylwin

First league crown ends a drought of almost three decades that the Rec Ground faithful would have scarcely believed at the dawn of the professional eraAt the 29th time of asking, Bath are champions of England once more. At five to five on a sunny afternoon here, Ben Spencer passed to Finn Russell – the married couple, as their coach, Johann van Graan, likes to call them – and Russell kicked it somewhere, anywhere but on the pitch to put an end to decades of pain out west.In 1996, when titles were won the old-fashioned way, the notion it would take so long for Bath, who had just won their sixth in eight years – their 10th cup in 13, and their fourth double – to become champions of England again would have seemed absurd. Only a little more absurd than the notion they wouldwin it would have seemed three years ago, when they finished bottom of the table, spared the indignity of relegation only by the very different way English rugby is organised these days. Continue reading...

Politics