REPORTS: Bath deal to make Finn Russell one of rugby's best paid

Reports in the UK and in France have Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell signing for Bath to become one of the best-paid rugby players in the world.

L’Equipe reported on Friday that the deal was done and The Telegraph today followed up that report with a claim that Russell will be paid a staggering £1 million a season to join Johann van Graan’s team.

Despite fine form for Racing in recent weeks, Russell will not extend with the Parisians after he was said to have been offered less than his current contract with the French giants. The Scot will become Bath’s nominated marquee player, allowing them to fit his salary into the team despite the relatively tight Premiership salary cap.

Racing – who will welcome Stuart Lancaster to Paris next term – have been linked with Exeter Chiefs 10 Joe Simmonds and All Blacks superstar Beauden Barrett.

It will a major switch-up for Russell, who will leave behind a Racing side that sit second in the Top 14 for Bath who sit in 8th in the Gallagher Premiership table and who have struggled over the course of last season and a half.

Russell began his professional career with Glasgow Warriors in the then Pro14, where he quickly established himself as one of the top fly-halves in the competition. He played a key role in the Warriors’ run to the 2015 Pro12 title.

In 2018, Russell joined Racing 92, where he has continued to excel.

In November Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend admitted that Russell is now the man “in possession” of Scotland’s number 10 jersey going into the Six Nations after the fly-half produced a magnificent display in Saturday’s 52-29 victory over ill-disciplined Argentina.

The Racing 92 stand-off was controversially omitted from the initial squad named in October for the autumn series, with the head coach raising concerns about his “form and consistency” at club level as he instead placed his faith in Blair Kinghorn and Adam Hastings.

However, Russell, on the back of impressive form at club level and injury to Hastings, was handed a recall to the squad ahead of the third autumn Test against New Zealand.

additional reporting PA