FINN RUSSELL: How a Stonemason Became a Rugby Superstar

[@seamus9750]

Finn is living proof off the talent outside off the private school system.

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

Yeah the SRU really need sort out spotting the talent outside the private schools

[@OscarOSullivan]

In fact better talent.

[@mrseuugr]

@@OscarOSullivan in terms of numbers, pretty likely. Doesn’t seem like much effort’s being made to nurture homegrown talent though, regardless of school.

[@AlphaNevada123]

@@mrseuugrwell they’re gonna have to sort it out. Can’t rely on saffa imports now that residency is up to 5 years.

[@UNICORN69HO]

@@seamus9750 I came here to say "thus breaking the stereotype of every scottish player being a lawyer" but seen yours, so here I say it.

[@drumdone]

Played in the inside backs against Finn a few times, first at Falkirk, then when he moved to Ayr. Great memories and always love to see him do well and I like the fact he wasn't put through the pathways as usual. Great example of talent standing out above the boys who mature early.

[@LailandiAdventures]

I friggin love Finn! I hope he inspires a new generation of silky Scottish rugby players.

[@ianwebb2235]

That was brilliant,,,,,,about a once in a generation player..... I am Welsh, I live in Japan,,,,,,and because my great grandfather was Scottish, I have a certain affinity to Scotland........Russell is one of the goats,,,an incredible talent! Thank you for the video....really enjoyed that!

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

I’m glad you enjoyed!! He’s a great player to watch

[@BB-nw6cs]

Respect for Scotish rugby players. Starting as a South African primary school barefoot rugby player I cannot even imagine playing in snow and ice 😅

[@DavidMcCluskey-o5j]

An excellent podcast, which told me so many things about Finn Russell that I didn’t know. He’s an outstanding player, supremely confident in his own abilities who’s prepared to take risks accepts the consequences delights rugby fans throughout the world.

[@MB-xq9hu]

You my friend make great videos! Helps that you are Scottish too... We have an admiration for the Scottish people here in the US. You set the bar high for the language we share making it an art form... But back to Rugby, I just subscribed, keep up the great work! Looking forward to continuing to learn about Rugby and attending some WC games in 2031, hopefully some will be here in Miami with the large Argentinian community we have!💪

[@bobwyllie41]

Thanks for name check. Great video, you have clearly done your research. Got his journey perfectly. Well done

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

that’s nice to hear, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@rotatingcow]

That image of Russell at 12:15 with the headline below is perfect, that's definitely a breach of team protocol alright

[@3681086]

Good video. I really enjoyed watching that

[@tonypiggot4877]

From a English man , not that should mater , what a true inspiration to rugby ! 💯 Finn !

[@davidkerr4103]

Nice, well researched piece on one of my favourite players (I’m a Jock). Stuff I didn’t know about his earlier days, well done. Just one point though, you were absolutely correct about the England vs Scotland game at Twickenham, it was 31 - 7 at half time but just a few minutes earlier, it was even worse at 31 - 0! I was watching the game in a pub in Edinburgh and walked out as I was so disappointed/embarrassed. Walking about the town with my wife and kids I heard a cheer, then another and another. Rushed back to our hotel to see the last 20 minutes or so. What a game, really disappointed we didn’t win but if you would have asked me if I’d take a draw before half time I’d have taken that all day. Incredible game!

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah I was at the pub with some mates too during that game and we thought about leaving at half time but then someone said “but what if?” So we stayed. And then the what if happened!! Lol.

[@vaovao1665]

It’s quite enlightening how, for years in Scotland’s eyes, between both of the teams biggest influences, Finn Russell was viewed as the bad guy and Stuart Hogg was seen as the good guy, and now years later it’s revealed all along that Finn was the good guy and Hogg was the bad guy

[@charlesstewart8676]

Really enjoyed this one dude! Will be subscribing

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

Awesome, thank you!

[@somerledislay9987]

We weren`t beaten by Australia in the quarter finals we were cheated by a southern hemisphere ref who had been cited by the French as showing southern bias , that was before awarding Australia a wrongful penalty in the infamous quarter final and he then compounded this by being the first referee in history to "run" off the field at that level . And as for Finn going to Racing that was prompted when Finn eclipsed the Great Dan Carter when the Warriors thrashed Racing home and away in the European cup

[@jimslim-dh4bg]

Finn ain't fit to lace Carters boots let alone eclipse the GOAT DC

[@gpilley1]

@@jimslim-dh4bg he did in that game. It isn't a career comparison ...

[@gingervirus2988]

@@jimslim-dh4bg Try reading what was said, watching the two games and learning English

[@coventryboy68]

Really well made vid and great points made. subbed.

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

Thanks and welcome

[@ds-cx5yo]

Brilliant video. Well researched and presented 👍 Look forward to hearing more of ya rugby insights in the future 🙌🏉

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

Much appreciated!

[@bennybruce4002]

Great vid. Great player.

[@eversor10]

I like this format

[@gingerbeardbro]

Great video on Finns Rugby career.

[@samuelkingston4451]

A story well told, great video

[@thecapn1000]

Really great video about a really great and inspirational player. I too dropped down a league when a young player when I couldn’t make the first team at a top club. But I stayed there…😊

[@eddieboy4667]

Great story. Thanks.

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Jinglylenny]

Finn’s uncle Charlie Pirie was also an International Motorcycle Road Racer and raced at a high level.

[@Felix-um7zl]

12:13 - for a split second I thought he had attacked a copper with a machete 🤣🤣

[@daviel6595]

What. A cool dude like him

[@petejohnball1564]

Connor, what is Jonny Grey up to these days? We haven't seen him for a long while. Excellent article by the way.

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

He’s at Bordeaux just now after having a long injury which kept him out for about 18 months. He ruled himself out of the November internationals for a rest and to not rush into international rugby after his return from injury. Hopefully we’ll see him in the 6 Nations

[@petejohnball1564]

@ConnorDoesRugby Thank you for the reply.

[@OscarOSullivan]

He played with Racing 92 at the same time as Simon Zebo

[@adamsmith8612]

Please make a video on Adam Hastings

[@buenvia]

@17:58 that's Hitchin town center

[@gingervirus2988]

Before, during and after Covid.....

[@MrHarvmc5]

Absolutely cracking work with that video mate extremely detailed. Next up Hoggs downfall?

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

Possibly, @JohnTalksRugby made a video about Hogg a few months ago so you should go check that out 😃

[@Calan-cm8sg]

Please do the Adam Hastings video

[@iteamy]

"and he had a car to pay off!" 🤣

[@weedaviec]

Reading between the lines- young talented player gets blootered or argues against team orders a few times, gets ghosted, then gets back on track. I like Finn Russell but why TF would Townsend exclude a player of that quality unless he either undermined him or breached team protocol? The temporary ban was probably for his benefit. We have all seen what happened to Maradona.

[@jim348]

Good

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

Thanks!!

[@IainVenters]

Aye when ye get flavour 😂

[@donnybrasco9330]

Sounds like Townsends is the problem with his old fashioned disciplinarian style

[@trevorcook9680]

Barry John ,Phil Bennett, Jonathan Davis did not go to public school either, Finn Russell is of this mould, & has not had his genius coached out of him as happens inthe public school system .

[@Gavsta60]

I must say that as much as I really enjoy watching him play I would hasten to point out that whenever Scotland has played the Springboks he's been virtually invisible. The Boks have learned quickly to shut him down rather rudely...

[@OscarOSullivan]

A lot like Keith Earls was an apprentice tradesman until he got the call to play professional rugby

[@brianodriscoll2725]

@@OscarOSullivan not really the same tbh. Earls was in every under age grade Munster and Ireland team and made his Ireland debut at like 20

[@OscarOSullivan]

@@brianodriscoll2725He was working on sites until Munster made him a member of the squad.

[@Frankabagnale33]

How will Scotland do in 6 nations 2025?

[@Thomas-im2tk]

Prob 3rd

[@Frankabagnale33]

@ interesting. Who will be 1 and 2?

[@Thomas-im2tk]

@@Frankabagnale33 France are Ireland as the top 2. as Italy wales and England are all performing poorly as of late. Although I think it will be close between to top 2 can’t decide who I think will win.

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

3rd probably but I think they have a chance at 2nd with how Ireland have been playing recently. With that game being at Murrayfield it’s a huge opportunity to get the Ireland monkey of the back. Can see us beating Italy, England and wales but think France will be too far

[@Frankabagnale33]

@ I’m expecting Ireland to be 3rd in the 6 nations this year, to be more of a building year, based on current performance.

[@dannyboywhaa3146]

Finn was a stonemason? Wow... should be the other way around lol how a boring old (I know he’s not boring lol) rugger player became a stonemason? Lot of money in stonemasonry - can literally pick your jobs and name your price 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@ericdavison6186]

I'd venture he is now a sculptor!

[@dannyboywhaa3146]

@ lol he certainly is... been interesting to watch his rise from young, hit and miss maverick to absolute world class, one of the best to have graced the game 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@grahamlait1969]

Sorry?... Finn was being paid £300.00 weekly as a sixteen year old apprentice stone mason sixteen years ago? Is that what you're telling us?... because if that's true, then he must have been the best paid sixteen year old apprentice in the whole of Scotland, in any trade.... and since I don't believe such obvious nonsense, I'm not going to watch any more of this.

[@ConnorDoesRugby]

👍

[@gingervirus2988]

Bye bye Graham. Don’t forget to ask Mummy to pick up your toys and put them back in the pram before you leave

[@Samizouza]

No wonder he was physically sculpted in stone himself, almost literally in the way he plays

[@baruchhashem49]

But Scotland keeps letting foreign players play and and the youth just think why bother

[@Samizouza]

Must be missing some diamonds in the rough outside the private schools like Finn here IMO.

[@OscarOSullivan]

A lot like Keith Earls was an apprentice tradesman until he got the call to play professional rugby

[@granitelcetronic]

...he answered...Ireland's call