Bristol Bears Ready to Splash the Cash with Huge Offer for Finn Russell
Rugby NewsWednesday, 09 April 2025 at 09:58
As Bath’s £1.2m man Finn Russell approaches the final year of his blockbuster contract, the race to secure his signature is heating up.
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RugbyPass has revealed that five clubs from the Gallagher Premiership, Top 14, and Japan are positioning themselves to launch negotiations next July.
Bristol Bears' Ambitious Plans
Bristol Bears owner Steve Lansdown has placed Russell at the top of his wishlist.
The aim? To pair the Scotland and Lions superstar with his compatriot Tom Jordan, whom Bristol have already signed ahead of next season.
The West Country club clearly means business, and Russell could be a crucial piece in their rebuilding puzzle.
A Chat in the Stands
Rumors gained traction when Russell was spotted in deep conversation with Racing 92 president Laurent Travers.
The meeting took place at Scottish Gas Murrayfield during Scotland’s 32-15 defeat to South Africa, a scene that sparked speculation about a potential return to the Paris-based club he starred for before joining Bath.
Stade Français and Saracens Interested
Stade Français are another heavyweight contender eager to speak with Russell. Meanwhile, the ever-dominant Saracens have also thrown their hat in the ring, hoping to add the Scottish magician to their squad. The Champions Cup-winning side’s interest underlines Russell’s status as a true game-changer.
Japan Beckons?
Adding an exotic twist to the saga, Japanese club Urayasu D-Rocks have emerged as suitors. Coached by Russell’s former teammate Greig Laidlaw, the D-Rocks could offer a lucrative and lifestyle-driven move to the Land of the Rising Sun.
EDITORS PICKS:
– and his picks are bound to raise a few eyebrows.
Dan Biggar names bold Lions XV – with big England omissions
Wales legend Dan Biggar has officially called time on his playing career, but not before dropping a blockbuster British & Irish Lions XV on The Rugby Pod
The 112-cap fly-half, who steered Wales through some of their finest Six Nations and World Cup moments, appeared on Jim Hamilton’s podcast this week and revealed his Lions dream team. Spoiler alert: there's no room for the likes of Owen Farrell, Johnny Sexton, or even himself.
Here’s how Biggar’s team shaped up…
Front-row firepower: Porter, Sheehan & Furlong
1. Andrew Porter
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
2. Dan Sheehan
3. Tadhg Furlong
It’s an all-Irish affair in the front row, with Biggar backing Leinster's dominant trio to boss the scrum. Furlong remains the Rolls-Royce of tightheads, while Sheehan and Porter provide dynamism in the loose.
Big boys in the boiler room: Itoje & Beirne
4. Maro Itoje
5. Tadhg Beirne
5. Tadhg Beirne
England’s Maro Itoje gets the nod despite some inconsistent recent form, with Biggar clearly still valuing his disruptive brilliance. He’s paired with the ever-reliable Beirne – a turnover machine and Lions Test starter in 2021.
Breakdown beasts: Curry, Van Der Flier & Doris (c)
6. Tom Curry
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)
7. Josh van der Flier
8. Caelan Doris (captain)
This back row is pure chaos – in the best possible way. England’s Tom Curry returns to the fray, Ireland’s Van der Flier adds World Player of the Year pedigree, and Doris, who’s fast becoming a modern-day great, takes the armband. A fearless choice.
Livewire half-backs: Gibson-Park & Russell
9. Jamison Gibson-Park
10. Finn Russell
10. Finn Russell
Gone are the days of conservative Lions 9-10 combos. Biggar’s gone full jazz here. Gibson-Park brings the zip, and Russell… well, Russell brings the flair. The Scotland maestro’s creativity earns him the No.10 jersey over Biggar himself – no ego here.
Fire on the flanks: Lowe & Kinghorn
11. James Lowe
14. Blair Kinghorn
14. Blair Kinghorn
Two versatile Scots fill the wing slots, with Kinghorn’s blend of size and speed complementing Lowe’s relentless work rate and booming left boot. Biggar clearly values adaptability out wide – and a bit of flair never hurts.
Caledonian connection in midfield: Tuipulotu & Jones
12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Huw Jones
13. Huw Jones
The Glasgow Warriors pairing have formed one of the deadliest centre combos in rugby, and Biggar’s kept them together. It’s a bold call, but one based on form and synergy rather than reputation alone.
Rock-solid fullback: Hugo Keenan
15. Hugo Keenan
No surprise here – Keenan has been Ireland’s Mr Consistent, and Biggar trusts him to be the safety net at the back. His positioning, aerial ability and counter-attacks make him a nailed-on pick.
The bench: a mix of muscle and mischief
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Zander Fagerson, Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith
It’s a stacked bench with serious impact. Genge and Fagerson bring brute force, while Earl and Morgan cover the back row with pace and punch. Marcus Smith adds some stardust, and Mitchell offers serious tempo at
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TOUGH QUIZ: Can you name EVERY British & Irish Lions captain of the past 50 Years?
To make this a little bit more difficult, some of the more recent tours included multiple captains, with both needed to be named if you want to ace this Lions Tour quiz. You have six minutes to get all of your answers down, and your time starts... Now!
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