Russell sets his sights on Champions Cup glory
Scotland stand-off Finn Russell insists it is a big target of his Parisian club, Racing 92, having been runners-up in 2016, 2018 and 2020, to win the Champions Cup for the first time in their history but is wary of the threat La Rochelle will pose in the last four.
Russell was a try-scorer in his side’s 41-22 quarterfinal win over English Premiership club Sale in Paris yesterday and he said after the game: “We are focusing on winning the champions Cup. The Top 14 is great, but after being in three finals of the Champions Cup, the club are desperate to win. “We got a good win against Sale, and we are looking forward to the semi-final [against La Rochelle in Lens]. “La Rochelle were very good against Montpellier and they are a class team. They beat us just after the Six Nations 19-0 so we know how tough it is going to be next week.” Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson insists the drop in the Premiership salary cap makes it difficult for English clubs to compete with starstudded French sides in Europe. Sale’s defeat ended English representation in the tournament. The Premiership salary cap is now £5million, which is significantly less than the spend of some of the English clubs’ European rivals, but Sanderson believes they must try to bridge the gap through good coaching and building a strong infrastructure. “Yes of course it does because you don’t have the money to sign the quality of players needed,” said Sanderson when asked if the salary cap prevents English clubs competing with French sides.