- Player: Finn Russell (Bath Rugby).
- Opponent: Edinburgh in European Champions Cup.
- Challenge: Facing several Scotland team-mates.
- Attitude: Looking forward to the matchup.
- Context: Upcoming Bath vs Edinburgh fixture.
Edinburgh (Edinburgh Daily News) January 14, 2026 – Finn Russell says he is relishing the challenge of facing several Scotland team-mates when Bath take on Edinburgh in Europe.
The outcome of Friday’s match at Bath’s Recreation Ground should determine whether the Edinburgh team or the English Prem winners win a fiercely competitive Pool Two and gain home advantage into the semifinals.
The game is played barely three weeks before Scotland’s away Six Nations opener against Italy on February 7 in Rome.
“I got a little bit off the Edinburgh players when we played them last season,”
said Bath fly-half Russell.
“It’s all good fun and all part of the game.
I played against Edinburgh a lot of times when I was at Glasgow and I’ve played with a lot of their players with Scotland. I know these boys from camp so well.”
The 33-year-old playmaker added:
“It’s always good fun playing against boys you know because there’s always bragging rights before the Six Nations. If they win or we win, we wind each other up.
I imagine there will be a couple of late shots, getting held on the ground — that kind of stuff, which is always the case against players you know.
Edinburgh have had a great campaign in the Champions Cup so far. It’s going to be a big challenge for us and we know what’s coming. Hopefully we’ll do the job on Friday night and we’ve got bit of a plan for them.”
Ollie Lawrence and Sam Underhill, two England players who missed Friday’s 43- 20 palm at French club Castres due to unexplained injuries, are anticipated to return for Bath.
How has Bath performed in the Champions Cup this season?
Bath have had a strong titleholders Cup pool crusade so far, sitting top of Pool 2 and formerly assured of a place in the last 16 going into the Edinburgh game.
Bath opened with a comprehensive home palm over Munster, scoring 40 points in a dominant display at the Rec. They also lost a high ‑ scoring nine ‑ try game down to Toulon 45 – 34 but still took a pass ‑ perk point, leaving them on six points after two rounds and leading the pool thanks to those perk points.
A 43 – 20 perk ‑ point palm down at Castres in Round 3 pushed Bath to the top of Pool 2 and mathematically secured qualification for the knockout phase. Ahead of facing Edinburgh, Bath have 11 pool points and remain in pole position for a home last ‑ 16 tie, though defeat could allow rivals to catch them.
