Russell keeps cool amid the chaos in Paris
As riots consume Paris, Russell wants to continue his own form of chaos on the pitch for Racing 92
FINN RUSSELL is posing for photographs by the Arc de Triomphe when 15 police vans fly past with their sirens blaring. Builders are still repairing the damage from last weekend’s riots — with windows smashed and walls sprayed with bright anti-Macron graffiti.
Almost 90,000 officers have been deployed and a crane lifts away a wrought iron fence which was destroyed by the angry mob.
‘They don’t do things by halves here,’ says the fly-half. ‘Rugby, taxes… French people are very passionate.’
The ‘yellow vest’ protests — aimed at the government’s tax reforms — forced football side Paris SaintGermain to cancel their Ligue 1 match yesterday.
Today’s Champions Cup game between Racing 92 and Leicester, however, is set to go ahead.
Taking cover in a nearby restaurant, Russell talks about his new life in the French capital.
He left Glasgow in the summer and has seamlessly taken over the No 10 jersey from Dan Carter.
‘I’m loving it here,’ he says, flicking through a menu. ‘I want to embrace it and live like a Frenchman. I’ve had snails a few times… picking them out the shell. It’s the sort of thing you order when mates are over. I want to try frogs’ legs at some point.
‘I ordered steak tartare once… but it looked a bit like dogfood!’
Russell, 26, has thrown himself into the French ways — opting for a rare-looking steak.
He is commanding a salary of £800,000 and this week received a message from his old housemate Ali Price about the French tax rows.
‘Wouldn’t be a pothole on any road in France if they were all funded by you!’ joked Price.
‘The only way I can fill in the potholes is if I get a job on the roads!’ replied Russell, who used to work as a stonemason.
Russell is already becoming a bigticket item in his new surroundings. He has brought across his unique style of rugby chaos and locals have dubbed him ‘mains d’argent’ —
money hands — because of his silky skills. Early days have come with early optimism and time will tell whether it is sustainable in the long French season.
‘I like the style of rugby here,’ he explains. You’re given licence to try things and for me that’s good. It might look chaotic but we all know what we’re doing and it works.
‘I’m not here to compare myself to Dan Carter or Johnny Sexton or Pat Lambie. That’s something I get asked about a lot but that’s not me.
‘I’m just chilled and I’m just here to do my thing.’
New club. New country. New expectations. Russell traded in his comfort zone in Glasgow to live by himself in a Parisian suburb.
This weekend, his family have all made the journey over to Paris to keep him company before the game against Leicester.
‘We’ve been out shopping for an extra bed!’ quips his mother, Sally, who also joined for lunch.
‘Scotland’s great but I needed a change,’ explains Russell, who signed a three-year deal. ‘Back there I was so comfortable and it was so easy.
‘I wasn’t really getting challenged that much. Not just rugby, but lifestyle and things like that. You’re always being challenged here. The language is hard… tiring.
‘You come in at the end of the day tired because you’re trying to speak in a new language all day.
‘Can I see myself playing back in Scotland? Probably not.
‘Glasgow was great for me but there’s much bigger things out there and careers are short. ‘I didn’t want to look back in 10 years’ time and say: “I wish I’d done that”, or come over at the end of my career and think: “I wish I’d done this when I was a bit younger”. ‘It would be good to experience Super Rugby or Japan, but I’m loving it here and if it stays like this, then I wouldn’t really want to move.’ Together with his new neighbour, Simon Zebo, Russell completed his CBT course and bought a 125CC motorbike to get around. It is only a short journey to La Defense Arena, where the pair face Leicester today and Russell hopes to offer calm in the storm. ‘Maybe our game will be nice for the fans with all the stuff that’s going on in the city,’ says Russell. ‘We’re based out of the centre and the rioting has not affected us too much. ‘The French players might have different opinions. ‘I don’t know much about it but a taxi driver told me it’s the worst he has seen for 40 years.’
Can I see myself playing back home in Scotland? Probably not. Careers are short