Gilchrist: “If you can’t get excited about playing this week, then you’re in the wrong place.”

• 5 Dec 2025
• Previews

It is a fixture that conjures up special memories for Edinburgh Rugby fans, and for double-centurion Grant Gilchrist, the anticipation of facing RC Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup opener this Sunday brings a rush of nostalgia and motivation.

Having been part of the squad that secured famous home and away victories against the French giants back in the 2018/19 season, Gilchrist is eager for the current squad to replicate that success this Sunday at Hive Stadium.

Reflecting on those famous wins, Gilchrist said: “Like they are now, they were a big, powerful side. We fronted up well up front, we gave ourselves an in in the game, and then we scored some brilliant tries.

“The one that sticks in my mind is Jimmy Johnstone’s over there. To go to the Mayol and win is huge. It’s a special memory to the boys that played.”

He singles out Bill Mata’s moment of magic: an offload at full speed with several defenders around him that saw James Johnstone collect and finish from 30m. That score, he insists, still gives him a thrill to this very day.

“It’s probably one of the best tries I can remember. Just absolute magic from Bill [Mata], but I think Jimmy’s take – the way he took it on the back shoulder. They’re up there.”

This Sunday, however, is a new chapter. Gilchrist is determined that the team meet the challenge head-on and make the most of the Champions Cup thrill.

“It’s three years since we’ve been in the Champions Cup, so getting that opportunity to test yourself against the best is really important to this club. And for our supporters to come on Sunday and watch us take on one of the best teams in Europe is what it’s all about. It’s a big week for us.”

The scale of the competition brings an essential extra edge to the week’s preparation.

“There’s just got to be an extra edge to everybody this week, because we know that level is another step up. It’s something that we aspire to get to,” Gilchrist explained.

He and other experienced players are ensuring the whole squad understands the step up in intensity. “The opportunity this week is one that we’ve got to go out and grab with our preparation and make sure that we don’t come to Sunday night and go ‘Ooft. We weren’t ready for that’.”

The Scotland lock acknowledges that winning first requires beating Toulon at their own power game first, before attempting to unlock them with speed.

“The biggest thing is we’re going to have to front up to the physicality just to gain access to this game. We’re going to have to defend well enough, our set piece is going to have to be good enough.”

“That’s the opportunity we have here. Can we front up physically to their power? And can we cause them problems with our speed, and playing on a surface that’s unfamiliar to them and a style of rugby that we play a lot in the URC and they don’t. They play that power game. Can we offer them something different and challenge them in that way?”

The environment at Hive Stadium will be electric, and Gilchrist is counting on the supporters playing their part.

“It’s special. It was a huge goal of ours to get back into the Champions Cup, so now that we’re here, and playing at home against Toulon, one of the biggest teams in Europe. If you can’t get excited about playing this week, then you’re in the wrong place.

“I’m sure our supporters will be excited about the prospect of seeing their team go up against one of the big dogs. And for us it’s about making sure that we get our stuff right and we represent ourselves in the way that we know that we can. And if we do that, we want to win the game.”