Finn Russell and Virimi Vakatawa combine for stunning winning try against Saracens
Rugby NewsSaturday, 26 September 2020 at 15:18
The big screen at the La Defense Arena launches into a strobe-heavy celebration graphic following their 19-15 win in the Champions Cup semi-final.
The Saracens players drop to their knees, their team is heading to the Championship, their stars are being scattered, the future for everyone concerned is unclear.
The win was confirmed for the French when Finn Russell pulled the rabbit out the hat just when Racing needed it.
A delicate chip over the flat Saracens defence for Virimi Vakatawa. The centre claims, holds off Richard Wigglesworth and feeds back to the Scot who releases Juan Imhoff into the corner.
JOIN THE RUCK:
5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Finn Russell
AMATEUR CAREER
In 2013, he received the John Macphail Scholarship, spending 15 weeks in New Zealand's South Island playing for local clubs in the Christchurch area. He benefited from the state-of-the art facilities and specialist coaching offered by the Canterbury Rugby Football Union international high performance unit.
WORK
After secondary school, Russell worked for three years as a stonemason. He recalled that time in a 2015 interview with Newport:
On rainy days it could be pretty miserable. . . . It could be tough but I enjoyed it. I'd be making windowsills, door frames, fire places – even building walls. But compared to playing rugby, it's night and day. If I ever have a bad day at training, I think back to what it was like working in that cold shed.[9]
TENSION WITH THE SRU
His Dad won an unfair dismissal case that he brought against the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) it is being reported. Keith Russell successfully brought legal proceeding against the SRU after he was dismissed from his position as Director of Domestic Rugby.
HUGE EARNER
When Racing 92's offer of a rumoured £750,000 a year coincided with the sacking of his father Keith by his Scottish Rugby Union employers in a nasty spat that ended up in the courts, Russell upped sticks and headed to Paris.
BROTHER
Finn's younger brother Archie may not play professionally but turned out for Cambridge Univeristy in the varsity match against Oxford in 2017, scoring a try in a 20-10 victory. They also played together for Ayr.
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