Finn Russell insists he is determined to make the most of his "French dream" after settling into life with Racing 92.
The Scotland stand-off made his first appearance for his new club on Saturday as Racing beat the Brazil national side 45-7 in a pre-season tournament in Georgia.
Russell started the match and had a hand in three of his team’s tries, including Simon Zebo’s opener after just 90 seconds, and also added two conversions.
It was a gentle introduction to life out of his "comfort zone" for the 25-year-old, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence since joining Glasgow Warriors in 2012.
Explaining his move to Racing, he said: "One day, I just told my agent, 'Do you know that I've always dreamed of playing in France, do you think a club would want me there?’
“Several clubs quickly contacted me. Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Racing were the most interested.
“I'd been in Glasgow for six years. I really wanted to fulfil my French dream before a heavy injury happened, before I was too old to take full advantage of it. You know, it's a short career.
“I am 25 years old and I hope to be far from having expressed all my potential. I want to go higher, I want to win titles.
“Signing to Racing, in one of the top three European clubs, was therefore a way to continue my apprenticeship. I don’t think we are making progress by never leaving our comfort zone.
“And I have everything to discover here – a new life, a new environment, a new language and new team-mates. I like this.”
Plenty have warned Russell he is also stepping into a different style of play in France’s Top 14, where massive forwards can dominate and where the kind of attacking, running rugby the Scotland star embraces can sometimes have little chance to shine.
However, the former Falkirk and Ayr fly-half, who began his working life as a stonemason, is eager to continue playing with a smile on his face, despite being heavily criticised by Sir Clive Woodward for laughing and grinning during the national anthems before Scotland’s Six Nations defeat to Wales.
In an interview on French website rugbyrama.fr, Russell added: “Before a game, some people need to bang their heads against the walls. For my part, I need to be happy to play well.
“And it's easy for him [Woodward] to say that.
“Me, I just know that we beat France the week after and England the following week. I don't know if he smiled a lot, after that!
“Still, the day I don’t have fun playing rugby, I will change job.”
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