Why isn’t Finn Russell playing for Scotland against Italy in Six Nations 2020 match and when will fly-half be back?
SCOTLAND visit Italy in a crucial Six Nations match but will once again be without Finn Russell.
They’ll need to beat the Italians without their star fly-half, who has been ruled out of the squad yet again.
Why isn’t Finn Russell playing for Scotland against England?
RUSSELL will play no part in the Six Nations match against Italy.
The Racing 92 star’s international career hangs in the balance after it was claimed he breached squad rules and embarked on a drinking session at the team hotel ahead of the Six Nations opener.
The 27-year-old had flown up North from London after Racing had faced Saracens in the Champions Cup.
It’s understood Russell was asked repeatedly by team-mates and coaching staff to quit drinking but continued before leaving the team hotel to return home.
Russell was reportedly given the chance to remain with the rest of the squad and train as normal but he elected to fly back to France.
A Scotland team spokesperson confirmed: “Stand-off Finn Russell will play no further part in preparations for Scotland’s Six Nations opener against Ireland, having been disciplined for a breach of team protocol during the week’s camp in Edinburgh.
“He has returned to his club.”
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Will Finn Russell play for Scotland at all this Six Nations?
In the build-up to the Six Nations, Gregor Townsend had suggested that Russell would be able to play for Scotland again in this Six Nations if he changed his behaviour.
But instead the fly-half doubled down by laying into Townsend with an explosive interview in the aftermath of the England game.
He told The Times: “Eight years I’ve had him as a coach, and I don’t really know him at all.
“We’ve not got a personal relationship.
“I want the best for Scotland and so I’ve questioned the environment to try and make it better.
“We [him and Townsend] have clashed quite a lot, him saying one thing and me saying another.
“It’s come to a point where I’m saying, ‘you can be you and I’m going to be me. That’s how this relationship is going to be.’ Well, it’s not really a relationship.
“A lot our game plan last year revolved around stats and kicking, and for me that’s not rugby. Just play the game.”
Scotland Six Nations fixtures
- Ireland 19 Scotland 12
- Scotland 6 England 13
- Italy vs Scotland – Saturday, February 22 at 2.15pm
- Scotland vs France – Sunday, March 8 at 3pm
- Wales vs Scotland – Saturday, March 14 at 2.15pm