Finn Russell reveals Owen Farrell wish ahead of 2025 British & Irish Lions tour

Scotland playmaker Finn Russell has revealed that he is keen to line up alongside England utility back Owen Farrell for the British & Irish Lions against the Wallabies in 2025.

The famous touring team are set to face the Wallabies in Australia next year and although both Russell and Farrell are highly rated fly-halves, the Scotsman believes they can do a job in the same backline.

Russell is currently at Premiership club Bath but prior to that he spent five seasons at French heavyweights Racing 92 – the same club which Farrell is joining from next season.

In 2021, the duo featured in a warm-up game for the Lions with Russell playing at fly-half and Farrell at inside centre and Russell is confident that combination could work again in Australia in 2025.

‘We would find that middle ground’

“I think we view the game differently, so there would be a bit of a clash there, but I think we would be good enough mates that we would get on with it and we would find that middle ground,” Russell told the Daily Mail while speaking at an event hosted by TNT Sports.

“We would have to find that balance between us, but he (Farrell) is a brilliant player and I would love to play with him. I don’t know if he will be there or not.

“I don’t know if I will be there or not, but I would love to play with him if we get the chance – maybe back at Racing in a few years, who knows?

Finn Russell’s advice to Owen Farrell on French move after Siya Kolisi’s failed stint

“We have always had an interesting relationship when we have played against each other.

“At the start it was head-to-head almost but recently, even before the Lions, it turned into a friendship. I can remember having a laugh with him.

“It shows how he has relaxed with his mindset. He is still so focused and driven to win, but maybe we have both changed the more we have played against each other and chatted a bit off the pitch. Maybe we have made that relationship. I like the bloke.”

Farrell and Russell have been together on two previous Lions tours – in New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021. While Farrell was a regular on both those tours and included in the initial squads from the outset, Russell was an injury replacement in 2017 before playing a key role in the 2021 trip.

Amongst favourites for Lions number 10 shirt

Although there are still 11 months to go before the 2025 tour, Russell is viewed as one of the favourites to wear the Lions’ number 10 shirt in the Tests against the Wallabies.

There is plenty of interest amongst Lions supporters about the upcoming trip to Australia, especially after the 2021 tour was played without fans attending due to Covid-19.

“In 2017 we knew from the start we were out there for 10 days to do the midweek games then we were going home. It was a different kind of mindset,” said Russell.

“In 2021 I was there from the start. I loved that tour, even though it was Covid. It was an amazing experience, but if I was to be able to do one with the fans that is something I would love to do.

“It would be such a different experience having the fans there to the first and second tours I went on. That would be a complete Lions tour.”

READ MORE: Stuart Hogg suffers fresh blow ahead of Top 14 comeback – report