FINN RUSSELL has appeared to rule out hopes he will return to the Scotland set-up during this year’s Six Nations after revealing a breakdown in his relationship with head coach Gregor Townsend.

The Racing 92 playmaker was stood down from the first two games of this year’s championship — the opening defeat in Dublin and Saturday’s Calcutta Cup loss to England — after the Scottish Rugby Union claimed he had breached team protocols.

According to Murrayfield sources, the star stand-off was sanctioned by Townsend after he missed a training session ahead of the Ireland Test on the back of a late-night drinking session.