Russell made his international debut against the United States in 2014, and has since played over fifty test matches. He has also represented the British & Irish Lions during their tours of New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa in 2021, playing in one test.[1] In 2024, Russell featured in the Netflix documentary Six Nations Full Contact.[2]
Early life
Russell was born into a sporting family. His father played a lot of racket sports, and worked in sports administration, including as Director of Domestic Rugby for the Scottish Rugby Union. His grandparents were international badminton players, his uncle and great-grandfather played Cricket for Scotland and his brothers are also noted rugby players.[3]
Russell started playing rugby in Wallace High School in Stirling. Russell did not feel drawn to academic work. After secondary school, he pursued an apprenticeship for three years as a stonemason, in a business owned by a family friend, whilst his rugby developed.[4][5]
Russell initially played rugby at Stirling County, but in 2011 moved to second-flight Falkirk to improve his chances of first XV club rugby.[7] Russell was selected to play for Ayr after the IRB Championship tournament, helping them win the league and cup double in the 2012–13 season of the Scottish Premiership.[8][9] Russell joined Glasgow Warriors in 2012, but was injured in his first season.
Glasgow Warriors
Russell returned to Glasgow for the 2013/14 season. With Glasgow's top players away on international duty for the 2013 Six Nations Championship, Russell was named on the bench to face Zebre on 10 February 2013 as part of the 2012–13 Pro12 season, coming onto the field and making his professional debut at the 56th minute of the game. During the 2013–14 Pro12 season, Russell made his first start at the club, starting at Inside Centre against the Newport Gwent Dragons at Scotstoun Stadium on 22 November 2013. Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend offered Russell a full-time contract with the club that began in the 2014–15 season.[10]
2014–15 also saw Russell play a prominent role in Glasgow's Pro12 title triumph. In the final match of the regular season, he scored 22 points (including two tries) in a bonus-point victory over Ulster which was needed to secure a home play-off.[11] The following week, against the same opposition, Russell's pass to D. T. H. van der Merwe in the 75th minute resulted in a try, tying the score at 14–14. Russell then scored the decisive conversion from a wide angle to send Glasgow into the final.[12]
In the final at Belfast's Ravenhill Stadium, Russell scored a try and four conversions in a 31–13 victory over Munster, as Glasgow won their maiden title.[13]
Russell playing for Racing 92 in 2020
Racing 92
On 29 November 2017, it was announced that Russell would leave Glasgow Warriors at the end of the 2017–18 season to play for French club Racing 92, where he was to replace All BlackDan Carter who was moving to Japan.[14]
Following Scotland's early exit from the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Russell made his Bath debut as a substitute in the opening round of the 2023-24 Premiership Rugby season, contributing to Bath's 34-26 victory over Newcastle Falcons.[16]
Russell sustained a groin injury during Bath's Investec Champions Cup defeat to Exeter Chiefs, taking him out of action for five weeks.[17] He returned for the final two rounds of the regular season, playing a crucial role in helping Bath reach the playoffs for the first time in four years. In the semi-final against Sale Sharks, Russell scored 16 points, leading Bath to a 31-23 victory and securing their first Premiership Final appearance in nine years.[18] However, Bath fell to Northampton Saints, losing the final 25-21.[19]
In 2014, Russell had what Scottish sportswriter Andy Newport called "a meteoric rise [that] saw the former Stirling County youngster blast his way into the national team in the space of six months."[4]
Russell established himself as Scotland's first-choice Number 10 during the 2015 Six Nations Championship, starting four of the team's five matches.[21] He missed the defeat to Italy through suspension, his sin-binning against Wales having been upgraded to a two-week ban following a citation (and unsuccessful appeal).[22] Russell scored his first international try in the final day defeat to eventual champions Ireland.[23]
The summer of 2017 began with Russell as part of Scotland's Southern Hemisphere tour. He created two tries in the opening match win over Italy in Singapore,[25] and followed this with a try of his own a week later during victory over Australia.[26]
Russell played in all five of Scotland's 2018 Six Nations Championship fixtures. During the 25-13 victory over England,[27] he threw an audacious pass on his own 22-yard line as part of an attack leading to a try scored by Sean Maitland. This piece of skill was subsequently described by many pundits as being one of the greatest of all-time.[28][29][30]
Russell played in four of Scotland's 2019 Six Nations Championship fixtures, missing the match against France due to injury. He scored a try and two conversions and played pivotal role in Scotland's come back against England to earn a 38-38 draw.
Russell in a Six Nations match against Italy in March 2024
Russell played in three of Scotland's group matches at the 2019 Rugby World Cup scoring a try in the loss to Japan, as Scotland failed to qualify to the quarter finals.
In 2021, Russell was selected in the 37-man squad for the Lions' tour to South Africa.[35] His first Lions points came when he kicked four conversions in the 7-54 victory over the Sharks.[36] Following an achilles tendon injury that kept him out of the first two Tests, he was selected on the bench for the decisive third Test match, coming on to the field after only 11 minutes to kick 11 points.[37][38] Russell's performance was widely praised, with former England scrum half Matt Dawson stating, “if he was an All Black, you’d be saying he’s the next Dan Carter, he’s that good”.[39]
Personal life
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.
Russell has been nicknamed 'Russell the Muscle' due to having a somewhat slender build for a modern-day rugby player, and has also been given the moniker 'White Chocolate' by teammate Simon Zebo.[40][41]
Russell has been in a relationship with Emma Canning, a Scottish heptathlete, since 2017.[42] In November 2022 Canning gave birth to the couple's first child, a daughter.[43]
^Russell was drafted to Ayr in the Scottish Premiership for the 2017–18 season Pro-player scheme, which seeks to increase integration between the BT Premiership and the professional game."Pro-player draft".
.jpg)
