RUSSELL LOOKS SET TO MAKE RACING SWITCH
FRenCH giants Racing 92 have won the race to sign Finn Russell after the stand-off confirmed he will leave Glasgow Warriors at the end of the season.
Racing see the Scotland no10 as the perfect replacement for all Black legend dan Carter, who will similarly call time on his stay in the French capital at the end of the campaign before joining up with Kobe Kobelco Steelers.
Officials at the French club have tabled an offer not far short of £600,000 a year for Russell, which will make him the highest paid Scottish player in history.
Rivals Montpellier, lyon and Bordeaux in France as well as Wasps in england were also in the market for his signature but couldn’t compete financially. Warriors, too, made him an offer to try and keep him but it also fell short.
‘i’ve really enjoyed my five years at Glasgow Warriors,’ said Russell, confirming he was leaving on the Warriors official website.
‘i would like to thank every player, coach and member of the backroom staff for making it so special.
‘during my time at the club, i’ve really developed as a player and i’ve been called up to the Scotland and British and irish lions squads.
‘i have shared so many fantastic moments with people who are now friends for life and to do it in front of the amazing Glasgow Warriors supporters at Scotstoun has been a dream come true.
‘i’ve always wanted to experience as much as i can during what is a short rugby career.
‘it was a difficult decision to leave Glasgow but i have the opportunity to take myself out of my comfort zone and experience a new culture of rugby.
‘However, i am fully focused on Glasgow Warriors and will do everything i can to make my final season at Scotstoun a successful one.’
Warriors managing director nathan Bombrys confirmed Russell was leaving, although he did not confirm where to in his official statement. What he did say was that the Scotland international had ‘decided to move on and accept a lucrative opportunity at another club’.
‘Our club has an excellent track record of retaining our key players in recent years,’ said Bombrys.
‘However, in this instance Finn has decided to move on and accept a lucrative opportunity at another club. We respect his decision and when the time comes we will thank him for his contribution to the club. it has been great watching him develop and grow wearing a Glasgow Warriors shirt.
‘We know he will be fully focused on trying to bring another trophy to Glasgow Warriors this season.’
Racing 92 officials have never forgotten how Russell dominated Carter in their head-to-head in the european Champions Cup group stage last season when the Warriors beat the French club home and away.
they have kept their eye on him ever since with their assistant head coach, former irish international Ronan O’Gara, among those recommending they sign him.
Russell has enhanced his reputation this year, especially with his man-of-the-match performance in the international win over australia in Sydney over the summer.
He also held his own against world-class Beauden Barrett in Scotland’s narrow loss to new Zealand at the weekend.
losing Russell is a massive blow to Glasgow, who sit top of their Guinness Pro14 conference table after winning each of their first eight games.
Without Russell, head coach dave Rennie will have to either put his faith in young adam Hastings or move Peter Horne, who usually plays centre, to fly-half on a full-time basis.
there is no getting away from the fact that losing such a worldclass player as Russell will have an effect on Glasgow, regardless of who takes over from him.
He is a potential game-changer who plays with the type of flair the French love.
there is likely to be further bad news on the horizon soon for Glasgow with second-row Jonny Gray, who scored a try against the all Blacks at the weekend, also looking to be on his way out from Scotstoun.
He had been linked with english Championship side Bristol, who are spending big to try and consolidate a position in the aviva Premiership next season.
France, though, is his more likely destination with Racing 92 also keeping a close eye on him. So are Montpellier, who are coached by Vern Cotter, who was impressed by Gray’s ability and talent when he was in charge of Scotland.