Scotland's Russell on Netflix, near misses & family

Finn Russell says his young family has helped him relax off-field

Six Nations: Scotland v Italy

Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 1 February Time: 14:15 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, listen on Radio 5 live, Radio Scotland & BBC Sounds and follow live on the BBC Sport website and app.

Finn Russell is one of rugby union's biggest stars. A normal lad from Stirling done good who is unashamedly himself on and off the field.

His journey to the top is well documented. He worked as a stonemason while playing club rugby for Falkirk before signing for Glasgow Warriors and subsequently making his Scotland debut in 2014 at the age of 21.

The Bath fly-half controls games like few others while also possessing the ability and vision to unlock defences in the blink of an eye.

Audacious offloads, cross-field kicks and cheeky nutmegs from the now 32-year-old dominate YouTube compilations, but he is more than just a flashy maverick.

With age has come maturity and a sense of when to be pragmatic, but Russell has never lost his love for the game.

"When I first came through, a lot of it was about being very serious in the pitch and and not joking around, not laughing," Scotland's co-captain told 5 Live Breakfast.

"I came on with a smile and that was looked at as 'he doesn't care, he's a joker, he's not taking this seriously', which is not the case.

"I'm on there having fun and doing my job, so why can't I do it with a smile on my face?

"I think it is starting to change a little bit - you'll see more and more players being themselves on the pitch and off the field as well."

Much has been made of Russell's perceived lack of success given his obvious talent - his last title was the 2015 Pro12 with Glasgow.

But the man himself believes his fortunes will turn after losing the Champions Cup final with Racing 92 in 2020 and the Premiership final with Bath last year.

"It's probably been in the last year that people have started asking that sort of question, maybe because I'm getting a little bit older," Russell said.

"It's tough not winning titles but getting so close, but I don't think you ever lose that drive. It's always going to be there, I've not given up on it yet.

"Yeah, it does increase, but you still need the enjoyment. If I'm playing and happy and enjoying it then hopefully the rest kind of comes into place."

'Netflix access didn't go far enough'

Bristol Bears and United States player Ilona Maher - who has a huge following on TikTok through her appearance on Dancing with the Stars - has spoken out about how rugby needs to expose its bigger personalities more if it is to attract new fans.

This time last year, Netflix released an eight-part documentary series taking fans behind the scenes of the 2023 Six Nations in the hope of doing just that.

Full Contact focused on certain players - Russell, Wales' Louis Rees-Zammit, England's Owen Farrell and Ellis Genge, and Ireland's Johnny Sexton and Andrew Porter - but as with many documentary of that type, it only told part of the story.

Russell is disappointed at the news there will not be a third series, seeing the benefits of such a show despite its limited access.

"The Netflix series I think helps show that other side of rugby and the players," he said. "It's good for the sport to grow.

"I'm not sure how much access they got behind the scenes and how much they were allowed to do through the different unions.

"I'm pretty relaxed about most things, so I'm like 'well, why not just let them see everything'. I think that was good for this sport, so it's a shame that they're not doing another one."

'Young family gives different perspective'

Russell's outlook on rugby has changed in the past two years.

At the start of his career, he would replay games in his head, especially losses, fixating on what he could have done differently.

Since becoming a father to seven-month-old Skye and two-year-old Charlie, though, Russell finds it easier to switch off from his work.

"My eldest daughter, Charlie, was two in November - she's good fun, chatty," he said.

"It's cool being here in Bath, a smaller city - you can go into town and she can run around and have fun and chat to people.

"After a game whether you win or lose, I'll see Charlie and it kind of makes you forget about the game and what's happened. It definitely takes your mind off it.

"It definitely does give you a different perspective on life and on rugby instead of being down after the game, rethinking what could have been different.

"I wouldn't say it's recovery because you're full on with the kids, but in terms of getting away from rugby, it's really good.

"Instead of PlayStation, I've got my two-year-old to keep me busy."