Bath and Racing to battle over Russell
ON THE BLINDSIDE
Racing 92 have stepped up their bid to keep Scotland ace Finn Russell in the French capital next season amid interest from Bath to bring him to the Premiership.
Incoming Racing boss Stuart Lancaster is keen to keep Russell at the club next season Racing set up their bid to stop Russell from moving to the West Country.
Russell, 30, who has been playing in France for the last four years, is out of contract at the end of the season, and has spoken to Bath about returning to the UK.
Johann van Graan is rebuilding the Bath squad, which is needed after losing 19-13 against Harlequins on Friday night, their sixth defeat in nine Premiership games this season.
Bath have brought in Ollie Lawrence, Ted Hill, Valery Morozov and Fergus Lee-Warner on permanent deals from Worcester, while back row Alfie Barbeary, below, has been recruited from Wasps.
Russell recently played a starring role for Scotland in their narrow defeat to the All Blacks at Murrayfield and was involved in all eight tries they scored in the 52-29 win over Argentina.
He is widely expected to wear the No.10 shirt when Scotland kick off their Six Nations campaign against England at Twickenham on February 4.
Racing and Bath are expected to be facing competition from Japan, where at least two teams are preparing offers for him to decamp to the Far East after the World Cup.
