Scotland captain denounces 'fake' old school rugby values after Finn Russell's Eddie Hearn deal

The organisation, founded and run by boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, recently started snapping up rugby players to their self described ‘family’ with Northampton Saints’ back rower Henry Pollock the first to be announced. Russell then followed with Hearn calling him “arguably one of the most talented players on the planet today.”

However it’s fair to say that not everyone shares Tuipulotu’s joy for his 2025 British & Irish Lions teammates. The idea of celebrity and showmanship, often more associated with sports like boxing or mixed martial arts, perhaps doesn’t align with the principles of some traditionalists.

“Good on those two” - Scotland captain happy for Lions teammates striking deals with Eddie Hearn

Rugby union has historically valued humility, understatement and a team-first identity over flamboyancy and ego. Others argue that big personalities will help grow the game as Hearn and his agency look to bring the sport into the mainstream with players like Pollock and Russell at the forefront of that movement.

Tuipulotu, the current captain of Scotland men’s national team, certainly falls in the latter camp. The Glasgow Warriors’ centre denounced certain ‘traditional rugby values’ as “fake” when discussing Matchroom’s moves within the sport.

“It kind of pissed me off because I am the boxing fan,” the 29-year-old joked when initially asked if he himself had received a call from Hearn. “I like boxing, and Finn and that blonde kid from England don't know anything about boxing.

“Good on those two. I think it's mad for the sport and they're two of the right guys. I feel like, playing in England, Finn being who he is, Henry being who he is, that's sick for the sport.”

Sione Tuipulotu doesn’t agree with ‘old school’ part of rugby

On the news potentially rubbing some people up the wrong way, Tuipulotu continued: “I don't really agree with the whole old school part of rugby. To be blatantly honest, I think it's kind of fake.

“The guys that push all the old school values, normally in front of the TV or in the changing room or something like that, they're not necessarily that type of person when they go home. I feel like rugby needs to go that way.

“I'm not saying we lose the plot and go full NFL style, I don't think that'll ever happen, but people deserve to know who Finn is in the world, and Henry, and it's good for the sport. I think some of the core values need to stay the same, obviously that's what makes our game beautiful, but I feel like we need to head in that direction.

“Eddie Hearn was saying that he's surprised at how little Henry earns, and it's interesting because we play such a brutal sport. If you compare it to other sports that get paid a lot more, they aren't risking their bodies every time they get out there.

“So I don't know, it's an interesting conversation to have, but it's sick to see Finn and Matchroom and Henry doing that, I reckon it's awesome for the sport.”

Russell certainly fits the mould of a Matchroom athlete, being a showman on and off the pitch. The self-described ‘Lionel Messi of rugby’ is also known to enjoy some of the finer things in life, including luxury cars.

“I don't think Franco would let me pull up in the Bentley!” laughed Tuipulotu. “Finn's always drove nice cars as well, I think the Bentley's actually pretty lame to be honest.”

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