Finn Russell Eager for Lions Link-Up with Owen Farrell in 2025
Having squared off countless times over the years, Scotland captain Finn Russell says he would relish the opportunity to team up with England’s Owen Farrell on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia in 2025.
Farrell, 32, is set to join French side Racing 92, which will render him ineligible for England duty during the two years of his contract. However, with his father, Andy Farrell, taking charge as Lions head coach, the door remains open for the playmaker to feature in the iconic three-Test series Down Under.
Russell, now 31, is eyeing a third Lions tour and hopes to build on the one cap he earned in 2021, where he and Farrell formed a surprising yet strong bond. The Scottish fly-half acknowledged the potential challenges of combining his creative style with Farrell’s structured approach but is confident their friendship and mutual respect would make it work.
“We see the game differently, so there’d be a bit of a clash there, but we’re good enough mates that we’d figure it out,” said Russell. “We’d need to find the balance, but he’s a brilliant player, and I’d love to play with him.”
Reflecting on their relationship, Russell continued: “I got on really well with Owen in 2021. I’d always heard he was super focused and intense, but I didn’t see that at all. When we played against each other, it was always competitive – me against him – but we could laugh about it at the same time. Over the years, I came to really enjoy those battles because of his competitiveness, but also because I liked him as a person. It’s evolved a lot from when we first faced off.”
Russell’s Lions journey has been marked by near-misses and frustration. In 2017, he was called up as an injury replacement in New Zealand but made just one brief midweek appearance. In 2021, an Achilles injury sidelined him for the first two Tests against South Africa, with the tour held behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
Russell hopes a full Lions experience awaits in Australia, with fans back in the stands and the atmosphere at fever pitch. “You see the footage from the 2013 Lions tour in Australia, with all the fans – that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “The first tour I was on was just a quick job, and the second one was great but had no fans. To do it again, with everything in place, and really be part of the whole Lions experience, that would be amazing.”
With his flair, leadership, and growing experience, Russell is determined to make a lasting impact on a tour that promises to be one of the highlights of his career – potentially alongside one of his fiercest rivals turned friend.
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