Hawick’s Darcy Graham named in Edinburgh’s starting XV for EPCR Challenge Cup game v Toulon tomorrow
Scotland right-winger Darcy Graham has been named in Edinburgh’s starting line-up for their European Professional Club Rugby Challenge Cup game at home to France’s Toulon this Friday, October 16.
The 57-times-capped Borderer’s selection follows the United Rugby Championship club’s announcement earlier this week that his recovery schedule from a bicep injury sustained in a pre-season friendly away to London’s Harlequins in September had been cut short by two months.
Initially expected to be sidelined until the end of the year, the Hawick 29-year-old was this week passed as fit to play as soon as required by club medics and he goes straight into his side’s starting XV for his first game of the new season.
It will be his first taste of competitive action since Scotland’s 33-17 Nations Championship win at home to Fiji at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium in July.
His arrival at No 14 for his 99th Edinburgh appearance, with Malelili Satala switching to the left wing and Geordie Gwynn dropping to the bench, is one of two changes to the side that beat Zebre Parma 29-12 away on Saturday, blindside flanker Tom Currie’s first start of this term, taking over from Liam McConnell, being the other.
Club veteran Grant Gilchrist also returns from injury and is named among head coach Sean Everitt’s replacements.
Kick-off at the capital’s Hive Stadium is at 8pm and the game will be broadcast live on Premier Sports.
South African Everitt, 56, said: “The energy around the squad this week has been great as we move into our first European match of the season.
“Toulon are a huge club, and with a big crowd expected at Hive Stadium, we can’t wait to get stuck into the match in front of our home fans.
“Toulon bring with them a huge pedigree in Europe and we know the challenge that will bring, but we’re excited to meet that challenge head on.”
Graham is one of three Borderers in Edinburgh’s starting line-up, along with fellow ex-Green Hector Patterson at scrum-half and Jedburgh’s Glen Young at lock, and there’s another on the bench, Peebles’ Rory McHaffie.
Also starting are co-captains Matt Currie and Magnus Bradbury, Piers O’Conor, Mosese Tuipulotu, James Grayson, Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Callum Hunter-Hill and Freddy Douglas.
Joining winger McHaffie, 19, and lock Gilchrist, 36, on the bench are Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, Jamie Stewart, Paul Hill, Euan McVie, Conor McAlpine and Geordie Gwynn.
This week’s game is Edinburgh’s second at home to Toulon in just over ten months, the last one having yielded a 33-20 European Rugby Champions Cup victory in December.