Finn Russell is OMITTED from Scotland’s squad for next month’s autumn internationals

Finn Russell is OMITTED from Scotland’s squad for next month’s autumn internationals in a surprise call by head coach Gregor Townsend – with Blair Kinghorn likely to start at fly-half

  • Finn Russell is reportedly set to be left out of Scotland’s autumn internationals
  • Russell is not available to Australia as the match falls out of the Test window
  • However, Racing 92 fly-half is likely to miss Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina too 

Racing 92 fly-half Finn Russell has been left out of the Scotland squad for the Autumn Nations Series.

Blair Kinghorn, Adam Hastings and Ross Thompson have all been chosen ahead of the British and Irish Lions international.

Australia international Jack Dempsey has been called up after switching allegiances, while his uncapped Glasgow team-mate Stafford McDowall is also included in Gregor Townsend’s squad.

Finn Russell is reportedly set to be left out of Scotland’s squad for the autumn internationals

Russell has had an up-and-down relationship with Gregor Townend but this will be a shock call

Russell has had an up-and-down relationship with Gregor Townend but this will be a shock call

Edinburgh forward Jamie Ritchie has been named as captain ahead of games against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina at BT Murrayfield. 

Russell has been the primary fly-half for his country since 2014, winning 62 caps in the process.

However, he has had an up-and-down relationship with Townsend and was left out of the squad for the 2020 Six Nations an alleged late-night drinking session at a team hotel. He then publicly criticised the coach’s methods.

Having reconciled, the 30-year-old missed Scotland’s Six Nations finale with Ireland this year after being one of six players found to have breached team protocols in the aftermath of their victory in Italy.

It’s understood that British & Irish Lions trio Russell, Stuart Hogg and Ali Price, as well as Sione Tuipulotu, Darcy Graham and Sam Johnson, incurred the wrath of team management after leaving the team hotel to head to a bar in Edinburgh following their return from Rome.

Russell was subsequently rested along with several other leading players for Scotland’s summer tour of Argentina. 

Edinburgh's Blair Kinghorn is likely to get the nod to play No 10 in Russell's absence next month

Edinburgh’s Blair Kinghorn is likely to get the nod to play No 10 in Russell’s absence next month