Russell would love Lions link-up with Farrell

Russell and Farrell have had a few ding-dong battles for Scotland and England

Having gone head-to-head with Owen Farrell over the years, Finn Russell would relish the chance to team up with the England star on the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.

Farrell’s departure for Racing 92 means the former captain, 32, will not be eligible for international duty for the two years of his contract in Paris.

However, his father, Andy, will be the Lions' head coach and could select the playmaker for the three-Test tour down under.

Scotland skipper Russell, 31, will be hoping to add to his one Lions cap from 2021, when he struck up a friendship with Farrell.

"We view the game differently so there would be a bit of a clash there, but we are good enough mates that we would get on with it," said Russell.

"We would have to find that balance between us, but he’s a brilliant player and I would love to play with him.

"I got on really well with Owen in 2021. I’d heard he was so focused and he was intense, but I didn’t see any of that at all.

"We have always had an interesting relationship when we have played against each other. Before, it was me against you and by the end of it, it was still me against you, but we could have a laugh while we were doing it.

"At the end I looked forward to playing against him, for his competitiveness, but I liked the bloke. It changed as the years have gone on."

Russell aims for third time lucky with Lions

Russell was first called up for the Lions as an injury replacement in 2017, making one brief midweek outing in New Zealand.

The 2021 tour of South Africa took place behind closed doors, with an Achilles problem keeping the fly-half out of the first two Tests.

"You see the videos from 2013 when the Lions were last in Australia, with all of the fans," he said. "That would be a very different experience to the first and second tours I went on.

"The first was very much 'you are here to do a job and get out of here'. The second one had no fans. It was great, but different.

"To experience it fully and go on a tour with fans, be part of it all again, that would be a complete Lions tour. It would be amazing."