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Finn Russell already in Bath training just days after World Cup exit

Finn Russell / PA

Scotland may have crashed out of the World Cup on Saturday, but fly-half Finn Russell is already back on the horse with his new club Bath.

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The Scottish talisman was Bath’s big signing over the summer, joining from the Top 14’s Racing 92, and has put the misery of the World Cup behind him by teaming up with his new club at their Farleigh House training ground.

Bath shared a photo of Russell and his Scotland teammate Cameron Redpath clad in boots and their Bath training kit today, presumably in their first session back following their 36-14 loss to Ireland at the Stade de France.

Russell’s arrival at Bath has been a long time coming, as the move was announced last year. After the deal was announced, the Scot said: “I know players at Bath who speak highly of the environment, and the direction the club is going in is something I want to be a part of.

“I have enjoyed my time at Racing 92 and I have learned a lot. Now is the right time for a new challenge in a new league, with the aim of moving Bath back to the top end of the Premiership and competing for domestic and European titles.”

Bath head coach Johann van Graan added: “Finn is a world-class player who will significantly add to our squad on and off the field. To be able to attract players of Finn’s quality to Bath Rugby is a credit to how far we have come as a club and a group since July. We look forward to welcoming his experience, leadership and expertise.”

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GrahamVF 1 hour ago
Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

"has SA actually EVER helped to develop another union to maturity like NZ has with Japan," yes - Argentina. You obviously don't know the history of Argentinian rugby. SA were touring there on long development tours in the 1950's

We continued the Junior Bok tours to the Argentine through to the early 70's

My coach at Grey High was Giepie Wentzel who toured Argentine as a fly half. He told me about how every Argentinian rugby club has pictures of Van Heerden and Danie Craven on prominent display. Yes we have developed a nation far more than NZ has done for Japan. And BTW Sa players were playing and coaching in Japan long before the Kiwis arrived. Fourie du Preez and many others were playing there 15 years ago.


"Isaac Van Heerden's reputation as an innovative coach had spread to Argentina, and he was invited to Buenos Aires to help the Pumas prepare for their first visit to South Africa in 1965.[1][2] Despite Argentina faring badly in this tour,[2] it was the start of a long and happy relationship between Van Heerden and the Pumas. Izak van Heerden took leave from his teaching post in Durban, relocated to Argentina, learnt fluent Spanish, and would revolutionise Argentine play in the late 1960s, laying the way open for great players such as Hugo Porta.[1][2] Van Heerden virtually invented the "tight loose" form of play, an area in which the Argentines would come to excel, and which would become a hallmark of their playing style. The Pumas repaid the initial debt, by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park, and emerged as one of the better modern rugby nations, thanks largely to the talents of this Durban schoolmaster.[1]"


After the promise made by Junior Springbok manager JF Louw at the end of a 12-game tour to Argentina in 1959 – ‘I will do everything to ensure we invite you to tour our country’ – there were concerns about the strength of Argentinian rugby. South African Rugby Board president Danie Craven sent coach Izak van Heerden to help the Pumas prepare and they repaid the favour by beating the Junior Springboks at Ellis Park.

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