Scotland and Bath talisman Finn Russell 'poised for Eddie Hearn switch'

Hearn’s Matchroom talent agency has formed a partnership with Stellar Rugby and in March announced Northampton and England back-rower Henry Pollock as its new client amid much fanfare.

Now Russell looks set to follow. The Bath and Scotland stand-off is one of the Prem’s biggest earners and helped his club win the league and European Challenge Cup double last season, their first major silverware in 17 years.

The Telegraph is reporting that an announcement on a deal between Russell and Hearn is imminent following successful meetings in London last weekend.

Hearn, who made his name promoting boxing, believes there is untapped potential in rugby. He promised to put Pollock “everywhere in the next three or four weeks”, including chat shows in the bracket of Graham Norton or Jonathan Ross.

That has yet to materialise but there is little doubt that Hearn has the nous to considerably boost his clients’ earnings and Russell is one of a handful of genuine rugby stars who crosses over into the mainstream.

In an interview with the i Paper in March, Hearn didn’t hide his admiration for Russell, who has been capped 94 times by Scotland and piloted the British and Irish Lions to a Test series win in Australia last summer.

“There's nothing agreed with Finn Russell, but he's one of the greatest in the world, a fantastic ambassador and great personality,” said Hearn. “At the moment, we're focused on Pollock.”