While the bulk of the Scotland squad will always likely come from the country's two professional sides in Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh, there are players who have been impressing away from their homeland.
With some of Scotland’s best players competing at the top end of the English Premiership at the Top 14 in France, their experience can prove a real positive for national head coach Gregor Townsend.
Russell Oversees Massive Bath U-Turn
Bath were a side lacking ideas last season and longing for a magic formula to see them return to their former powers as one of England’s leading forces. From a side that finished eighth in the Premiership table last season, Bath are available at 10/3 in the betting UK markets to win the Grand Final this season. Those looking to back the West Country outfit can use a bet calculator to work out what returns they can expect from backing Bath to beat some stern competition to lift the trophy this year. If they are to go all the way and complete a remarkable turnaround from last season, Scotland fly-half Finn Russell will have likely played a key role.
Bath splashed the cash to bring Russell back across the Channel after his spell in Paris with Racing 92 last year. There were some who might have doubted how much influence one player could have at The Recreation Ground but the transformation has been startling. Russell has brought his creative flair to the party this season, while now an experienced stand-off, the Scot’s game management has also had a significant impact at the club. While Russell has been tearing it up at The Rec, flanker Andy Christie has also been impressing south of the border at Saracens. Making a big step in his development with Scotland in the Six Nations this year, there is plenty of excitement surrounding Christie at Test level. Both Russell and Christie look like they will have roles to play in the business end of the Premiership season.
Scots Shining On A French Path Well Travelled
There have been plenty of Scots who have dipped their toes in French rugby over the years and Blair Kinghorn is the latest to tread this path. Leaving his boyhood club at Edinburgh was a big decision for the full-back but he has been impressing since making the high-profile move to Toulouse. Kinghorn is becoming the latest Scotsman to impress across the Channel, following in the footsteps of Russell and Greig Laidlaw in recent years and even Townsend himself during his spells with Brive, Casteres and Montpellier.
Townsend’s appreciation for the French game will give him insight into what Kinghorn will be experiencing in the Top 14 this season. Scotland scrum-half Ben White is another who has taken the decision to take up a new challenge in France, having signed with Toulon until 2026. With both Toulouse and Toulon battling at the top end of the table, again Scots should be involved in the title run-in.
Scotland are still seeking their own magic formula to turn them from also-rans into Six Nations winners in the future. While it’s positive the core of players are plying their trade in Scotland, a few stars dotted around England and France could help take the national side to that next level.
