In the media blurb today about Scotstoun's new artificial pitch for next season there was an update on Finn. Once again thanks to Connacht/ Galway hospital staff otherwise it could have been much different.

www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36492698

Finn Russell: Glasgow fly-half to make full recovery, says Townsend

Gregor Townsend says Finn Russell is expected to make a full recovery from the "very bad" head injury sustained in Glasgow Warriors' Pro12 semi-final defeat by Connacht in May.

The Warriors head coach told BBC Scotland that the fly-half, 23, should be back training later this month.

"He sees a lot of specialists every week and they've been really pleased by how he's progressing," said Townsend.

"He was in yesterday and he's taking things step-by-step."

Russell 'itching to play again'

However, Townsend cannot at this stage of the rehabilitation put a date on the Scotland cap's return to action.

"We don't expect Finn to be back in training for another few weeks," Townsend said.

"He's in great spirits, we expect him to make a full recovery and we'll see him back playing sometime next season."

There had been concerns over whether Russell would be able to return to competitive rugby, such was the severity of the injury.

He was carried off on a stretcher early in last month's defeat by eventual tournament winners Connacht.

And Russell, capped 19 times by Scotland, will miss the national team's summer tour to Japan.

"We've got doctors who've been involved in sport for a number of years who haven't seen such a clash of heads," Townsend said.

"But it's testament to the work of our staff, those of Connacht and the medical staff in Ireland who helped us out for the first few days, that he has made a full recovery.

"I'm sure he'll be itching to play again very soon."

Finn Russell is looking a bit better

Unfortunately not the finish to the season I was looking for but these things happen. Thanks everyone for their support and messages especially @connachtrugby players, staff and medics! I'm back home and recovering well. So now time for getting looked after and some feet up in the sun!! #rugby #nofilter #injured #feetup

Yeah, bumped into Swifty with Mike McCarthy and Adrian Flavin afterwards.

Was great to see so many ex players at the game too.

connemara man wrote:

Finlay is going to be slagged about that until he's 90.

Just saw on twitter that Finn Russell is still in hospital. Transferred to Beaumont, and still there under observation. They're expecting him to be released later in the week. For personal reasons I always shudder when I hear of someone having to be transferred up there. Fingers crossed he makes a full and speedy recovery

curransj@gmail.com wrote: What section are all the clan members going to in Murrayfield

This thread here should have infor for you

What section are all the clan members going to in Murrayfield

pinky wrote: Just because a bigger boy said it don't make it OK.

Particularly when it's that bigger boy.

Just because a bigger boy said it don't make it OK.

pinky wrote: No need for that kind of trash talk dude. Best edit that post.

Edited.

Worth noting that it was Neil Francis, a former Leinster player, who first used the "Ladyboys" tag to describe his home province.

No need for that kind of trash talk dude. Best edit that post.

A sweet victory. One more to go hopefully. I hope we send the Gentlemen of D4 back home with their tails between their legs.

Oranmoron wrote: Pretty sure there is such a rule, and I think it applies across the provinces.i.e. there can't be more than one NIQ for each position across the 4 provinces. (I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be on to correct me shortly). As to the more general point, yeah, I think McGinty is great and has been a huge factor in our more recent successes. Will be missed.

That rule supposedly only applies to the other 3 provinces as we're deemed a special case due to the fact we're playing catchup with the others. That said it was initially violated more often than it was honoured (at least prior to Nucifora's arrival).

Nucifora has final signoff on every deal for every province. Once we'd signed Boshoff there was no way he'd let us keep McGinty, which is fair enough IMO.

That rule about one NIQ per position across the teams only applied to the other 3 provinces.
I think they way the IRFU phrased it at the time was: "Connacht don't have to obey that rule - because they're sh**e".