Finn Russell becomes a doctor as he reveals surprising post-rugby career

Wednesday, 16 September 2026 at 16:20

bySteven Smith

Finn Russell can officially call himself a doctor after receiving an honorary degree—but the Scotland star has a very different career in mind for when he retires.

The British and Irish Lions fly-half received an honorary doctorate from the University of Stirling.

The award recognised his outstanding contribution to Scottish sport.

Russell grew up near the university in Bridge of Allan. He also began his rugby journey with Stirling County before becoming one of the biggest names in the sport.

Speaking after receiving the honour, he said: “It’s a massive honour to receive this doctorate from the University of Stirling.

“I grew up just down the road and started playing rugby at Stirling County, so this area has always been a big part of my life.”

But the honorary degree does not mean Russell plans to swap Bath’s treatment room for a medical practice.

The 33-year-old has already revealed that he wants to return to his original trade after retiring from rugby.

Life after rugby

Before breaking through with Glasgow Warriors and Scotland, Russell spent three years as an apprentice stonemason.

He earned around £300 per week from the trade. He also received £50 for playing semi-professional rugby with Falkirk.

Russell worked for a family friend’s business. His job included restoration projects and other building work.

His rugby career later took him to Glasgow, Racing 92 and Bath. However, he has kept his interest in construction and property.

Read also

“I would like to return to some sort of trade when I retire,” Russell previously revealed.

The fly-half also believes the job helped him value his life as a professional rugby player.

He told The Guardian: “On rainy days it could be pretty miserable.

“But if I ever have a bad day at training, I think back to what it was like working in that cold shed.”

Russell can even point out buildings he helped to construct. That includes a project at the famous Gleneagles golf resort.

Future already decided

Russell has no plans to retire any time soon.

The Scotland star signed a new Bath contract in 2025. It will keep him at The Rec until the summer of 2028, when he will be 35.

Russell has said he wants to play for as long as his body allows. The 2027 Rugby World Cup remains one of his major targets.

He joined Bath from Racing 92 in 2023. Since then, he has become a key player for both club and country.

But when he does retire, Russell may decide against coaching or punditry.

Instead, Doctor Finn Russell could return to construction and pick up the tools he left behind at the start of his rugby career.

Five quirky facts about Finn Russell

1. His nickname is ‘White Chocolate’

Former Racing 92 teammate Simon Zebo gave Finn Russell the nickname because of his flair, creativity and ability to produce unexpected moments on the pitch.

He has also been called “Russell the Muscle”—a tongue-in-cheek reference to his relatively slender build.

2. He originally played at centre for Scotland

Russell is now regarded as one of the world’s leading fly-halves, but he represented Scotland at centre during the 2012 World Rugby U20 Championship.

His transition to number 10 helped launch his rapid rise into professional and international rugby.

3. He spent four months playing in New Zealand

In 2013, Russell received the John Macphail Scholarship and travelled to New Zealand.

He spent around 15 weeks at Lincoln University, playing club rugby and training within Canterbury’s high-performance system before returning to Scotland.

4. He was one of the Lions’ ‘Geography Six’

Finn Russell received a late call-up to the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour while already playing for Scotland in Australia.

Warren Gatland selected six nearby players to provide cover in New Zealand, leading to the group becoming known as the controversial “Geography Six”.

5. He compared himself to Lionel Messi

During the filming of Netflix’s Six Nations: Full Contact, Russell jokingly compared his influence for Scotland to Lionel Messi’s importance to Argentina.

When the comment appeared in the final programme, he laughed: “Cheers Netflix, you’ve done me over there!”

Finn Russell