Finn Russell: Scotland fly-half rejects criticism of physique, saying ‘I’m a rugby player, not a bodybuilder’

Russell has become one of the world’s best fly-halves but struggled to find his form in the recent Six Nations as Gregor Townsend’s men finished in fourth position.

He was dropped to the bench for their final Six Nations match against Ireland with the playmaker admitting that it was punishment for his performances, telling Rugbyrama: “There must also be some of that, yes.”

The fly-half and head coach Townsend have had their disagreements over the years – the 29-year-old was famously axed for a ‘breach of team protocol’ in 2020 – but he does not bear a grudge towards the Scotland boss.

“That’s how it is. Nobody likes being relegated to the bench. It was the second time it happened to me with Scotland, both times under Gregor. The first time, it was for my 50th cap,” he said.

Russell will continue to be his own man and that includes his diet.

“I’m a rugby player, a fly-half, not a bodybuilder. My job is not to push hard in the scrum or to overtake the opponent on the wing,” he said.

“The important thing for me is the psychological side; it’s about staying happy on and off the pitch. This is how I practice my best rugby. My body doesn’t matter to me. I don’t care if I don’t have chocolate bars. I love burgers and pizza too much, anyway…”

The playmaker has also been described as someone who tends to go from the sublime to the ridiculous – one minute producing a moment of magic before then making a needless mistake.

Russell added: “This reputation has followed me throughout my career. When I landed in Glasgow and then in the Scottish team, I tried different things, things that other players did not do before me.

“But if you look at how the out-halves on the international circuit play, they also try things: off-loads, kicks