Russell is going nowhere blasts Townsend

GLASGOW head coach Gregor Townsend insists Finn Russell will remain at the club next season despite speculation he is leaving.

Since outshining opposite number Dan Carter during the Warriors’ backto-back Champions Cup wins over Racing 92, the Scotland stand-off has been linked with top French and English clubs.

It is understood some clubs are prepared to buy out the final year of the 25year-old’s contract at Warriors.

But Townsend said: “He’s contracted and we look forward to him being here for the next season and a half, and hopefully beyond.

“Obviously our work is to get the best out of Finn and the best out of the team. He’s put in a lot of work in training and he’s getting the rewards by playing really well.

“He seems very happy here and obviously he has got a contract for the next couple of seasons, so we will make the most of his time here and we can’t predict what will happen after that.”

Townsend expressed disappointment that at least four teams – understood to be Bath, Gloucester, Toulon and Scotland coach Vern Cotter’s next destination Montpellier – are believed to have been circling.

“If clubs are speaking to our players when they have still got 18 months of contract left it is not right,” he said.

“If what has been said is correct and four clubs are interested then World Rugby has to do something about it.”

The global “regulation 4” regarding player contact does not specify any time restraint, though domestic leagues can instigate their own understanding between member clubs, but stresses that contact should be made through proper channels – in this case the SRU.

Townsend added: “There have been a number of developments in the game, where before there was much more understanding, comprehension, morality in terms of not speaking to players until they got to the last year of their contract, six months in the case of the Aviva Premiership.”