Finn Russell has no plans to retire soon as he eyes 2027 World Cup

Finn Russell will prolong his playing career for as long as possible with the role of Scotland’s chief conductor at the 2027 World Cup firmly in his sights.

Scotland’s co-captain has been revitalised by a summer break after being stood down from the recent tour to North and South America in order to mentally refresh ahead of a season that he hopes ends with the Lions’ expedition to Australia.

It is a very different feeling to the 2021-22 campaign when he was burnt out by the rugby treadmill, resulting in a loss of form, a weight gain of eight kilos and self-reflection over his international future.

Now enjoying being in his “best shape for a long time”, partly as a result of the demands of the birth of his second daughter in January, the dazzling Bath fly-half views retirement as a distant prospect.

“I’ll be turning 35 during the next World Cup, and I’m definitely planning on making that tournament,” said Russell, at an event hosted by TNT Sports.

“I am 32 next month and everyone is asking ‘what are you going to do after?’. But I’m thinking I’ve still got six or seven years to go.

“I’ve not got any notion of retiring any time soon, from either rugby or international rugby. I’m going to play as long as I can.

“Some players might have an idea that at 34 they will call it a day and get a job, but as long as I’m still enjoying it and playing well, there’s no point in me stopping.

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“You get a lot of lows in sport but the highs you get you can’t get anywhere else. And having young kids now, I’d love for them to be old enough to remember some of my career. So I might have to play until I’m 45 if I have another one!”

Russell has been building a property portfolio in Scotland to provide financial