Finn Russell makes blunt revelation about his playing future

Scotland fly-half Finn Russell does not plan to retire soon and is hoping to extend his career for as long as possible as he hopes to represent his country at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Russell, who currently plays his club rugby for Bath, was one of several senior Scotland internationals left out of an experimental squad for their mid-year Americas tour and is hoping to be part of next year’s British & Irish Lions trip to Australia.

Scotland‘s co-captain’s current situation is very different to the 2021/22 season when he suffered a loss of form due to burnout and gained eight kilograms in weight, which led to him doing some introspection about his international future.

Not thinking of retirement

He feels he is now in his “best shape for a long time” and said retirement is the furthest thing from his mind.

“I’ll be turning 35 during the next World Cup and I’m definitely planning on making that tournament,” said Russell, at an event hosted by TNT Sports.

“I am 32 next month and everyone is asking ‘what are you going to do after?’. But I’m thinking I’ve still got six or seven years to go.

“I’ve not got any notion of retiring any time soon, from either rugby or international rugby. I’m going to play as long as I can.

“Some players might have an idea that at 34 they will call it a day and get a job, but as long as I’m still enjoying it and playing well, there’s no point in me stopping.

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“You get a lot of lows in sport but the highs you get you can’t get anywhere else. And having young kids now, I’d love for them to be old enough to remember some of my career. So I might have to play until I’m 45 if I have another one!”

The experienced playmaker has been building a property portfolio in Scotland to provide financial security in retirement, funded by his Bath deal which sees him earning a reported £1million every year.

It has been money well spent by the West Country outfit given that in his first season Russell helped steer the club into the Premiership final, where they lost narrowly to Northampton.

He admitted that an unconventional coaching position is something which appeals to him when he does eventually retire.

Does not want to ‘be forced into something’

“I just want to set everything up while I am playing so I can finish when I want to and not be forced into something,” Russell said.

“If I was to do coaching, I would like to be a consultant coach, helping younger 10s coming through.

“I have got a slightly different mindset to a lot of players. I can make a mistake and as I’ve done it, I’ve forgotten about it pretty much.

“Trying to get that mindset across to others is something I would quite like because a lot of young players go into their shell quite quickly.”

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