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".

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.

Better link to Bundee leading the celebrations. Some team spirit in this group.

Darragh wrote: I am going to miss McGinty more than any other player that is leaving I think.

It's such a shame he went USA and then came this good after. The NIQ meant we just couldn't keep him I am sure and sounds like they had their eye on Boshoff quite early on too.

He is a fine player. Really like his style. He will do goo in the Aviva.

is their a rule that states you can't have 2 NIQ spotsin the same position, otherwise surely we would have a free NIQ spot that he could have taken up, too late now anyway. if he could improve his kicking from play he'd be an awesome out-half

He is just wonderful. He was close to tears being interviewed after the game.

Henshaw has made the wrong decision to go. Think his game will go backwards in some ways as in our backline recently, he is no longer the sole saint he once was last season.

Shame for him in some ways. What must he be thinking, especially if we win the final.

I am going to miss McGinty more than any other player that is leaving I think.

It's such a shame he went USA and then came this good after. The NIQ meant we just couldn't keep him I am sure and sounds like they had their eye on Boshoff quite early on too.

He is a fine player. Really like his style. He will do goo in the Aviva.

While we're praising players... AJ McGinty made 51 metres, beat eight defenders, made a team-high 11 tackles (missing only one) and was 100% from the kicking tee.

Bundee just gets better and better....

www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/rug...onnacht-celebrations

they were all heroes but I thought Tom McCartney was immense, in the leadup to Niyi's try Tom got the ball in midfield and was pounced on by 2 glasgow players, with support a bit too far away he just had to break the tackle which he did and made a few yards and stayed on his feet long enough for the supporting players to reach him, his darts were on the money throughout the game only 2 at the end missed their target.

did i hear somewhere that Nathan was back doing light training, it would be a huge boost for the leinster game to have him back even if it was for 40 minutes.

on a funnier note finlay fell on his backside celebrating on the sidelines, seemed to have an ice pack on his ankle, i hope he's ok

I am ever so proud.

It was a very tough game. A lot of sore bodies.

Everyone played their part except for one. Ah You knew exactly what he was doing for that high arm. He didn't completely go to stiffen the guy, but he left no margin for the step. To see him laughing about it really boiled my blood I must say. A total liability most of this season.

Apart from that, it was a great display of grit and determination.

Is Buckley completely out? Loughney was a bit poor in the first half but did improve. He doesn't seem to have the power anymore, but he does have the heart.

There is no reason why we can't go out and put it up to Leinster. They were good on Friday, but I expected a lot more from Ulster too.

Anything can happen in a final but we have got to go flat out for it, a la Grenoble.