SIX NATIONS 2020 RUSSELL IN THE FINN BIN

Fly-half is axed from Scotland squad as he misses training after night out

SCOTLAND talisman Finn Russell will not be selected for the Six Nations opener after allegedly failing to show up for a training session after a team drinks night.

Boss Gregor Townsend (with Russell, above) told the fly-half he would not be winning his 50th cap against Ireland next Saturday after a “breach of team protocol”.

Players had permission to have a few drinks, but it is alleged Russell, 27, refused to stop when approached by teammates and members of the coaching staff before leaving the hotel for his parents’ house in

Stirling.

The Racing 92 star eventually reported to

Scotland’s base later on

Monday, only for

Townsend to tell Russell that he would not feature against the Irish.

The Scotland coach then gave Russell the chance to return to the squad to help their preparations for the Six Nations opener at the Aviva Stadium.

But he snubbed the offer and has returned to his club side in Paris, placing serious doubts over his participation in all of the Six Nations matches. Russell is said to be unrepentant and took to social media to agree with a series of tweets.

One posted, “Nothing wrong with standing up for yourself ”, a comment the fly-half “liked”. Townsend and Russell also clashed at Twickenham last year as the player let rip about the tactics which had allowed England to race 31-0 ahead.

It was Russell who inspired the fightback for a 38-38 draw (left) as he threw the original game plan out the window and went for broke.