Next up: RC Toulon

It’s a blockbuster way to start our European journey, with the star-studded Top 14 outfit making the trip to the capital for Round 1 of the pool stage.

Toulon are no strangers to Hive Stadium. Less than a year ago, we put the three-time European champions to the sword in the Investec Champions Cup – and Edinburgh still hold a perfect three-from-three record against the club from the Var.

With the team top of the URC after three straight wins, Friday night under the lights is set to be another special one in EH12. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of kick-off.

Last time out

When these two sides last met, on a sodden Sunday night in December 2025, Edinburgh claimed a famous 33-20 bonus-point win to kick off our Investec Champions Cup campaign in style.

Toulon handled the torrential rain better early on. Melvyn Jaminet slotted a drop-goal and Scotland scrum-half Ben White – fired up on his return to home soil – darted over twice to put the visitors 17-10 ahead.

But Edinburgh dug in. Pierre Schoeman wrestled over from a lineout drive and Ben Vellacott finished acrobatically in the corner, before Cammy Scott’s boot edged the hosts into an 18-17 half-time lead.

The turning point came on 57 minutes, when Toulon captain Dave Ribbans was sin-binned for striking Liam McConnell – a moment that brought the Lothian Stand to its feet.

A dominant scrum led by replacement Boan Venter earned a penalty try, Scott found touch with a superb 50:22, and Venter himself muscled over from a metre out to seal all five points.

McConnell was named Investec Player of the Match, while 19-year-old tighthead Ollie Blyth-Lafferty impressed on his first professional start.

Toulon went on to reach the semi-finals of last season’s competition – a reminder of the quality of the scalp taken at Hive Stadium that night.

That win also extended a proud record against the French side. In 2018/19, Edinburgh beat Toulon 40-14 at Murrayfield before winning 28-17 at Stade Mayol – making the capital side one of the few teams to win at Toulon’s famous home in the competition.

Season so far

Edinburgh

Sean Everitt’s side have made their best start to a URC campaign since 2015/16, and arrive at the Challenge Cup sitting top of the league.

The season opened with a 34-29 win over Ulster in Belfast. Tries from Freddy Douglas, Malelili Satala, Hector Patterson and Piers O’Conor – plus 14 points from the boot of James Grayson – put Edinburgh 34-5 up before we held off a late Ulster fightback.

A week later, a gritty 17-13 win over the DHL Stormers lit up our first home game of the season. Paul Hill crossed after a brilliant break from Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, and 19-year-old Rory McHaffie scored the match-winner on his home bow, with the Edinburgh pack causing havoc at the Stormers lineout.

The momentum kept building in Parma in Round 3. Despite playing through two yellow cards, a four-try 29-12 bonus-point win over Zebre Parma made it three from three and sent Edinburgh to the top of the URC table.

Matt Currie, Freddy Douglas, Magnus Bradbury and Tom Currie crossed, with the bonus-point try coming from a rolling maul on the final play.

RC Toulon

It has been a turbulent start to the season for Toulon, despite a hugely ambitious summer recruitment drive that brought in Gael Fickou, Huw Jones, Rabah Slimani and Judicaël Cancoriet.

Toulon have won just one of their opening five league matches, 28-10 against newly promoted Vannes. Defeats to Bayonne, La Rochelle (20-21 at home) and Castres were followed by a 28-0 loss at Montpellier that left them 13th. Two days later, Director of Rugby Pierre Mignoni stepped down, with Franck Azéma – who coached the club between 2021 and 2023 and returned this summer – taking charge.

But Azéma’s first game in charge brought an instant response. Toulon beat Racing 92 29-15 at Stade Mayol last Saturday, and they’ll arrive in Edinburgh with renewed belief.

Don’t let the table fool you, though. This is a Toulon squad packed with internationals, a side that reached the Champions Cup semi-finals last season, and one that has set out its stall to go deep in this season’s Challenge Cup.

Players to watch

Edinburgh

Liam McConnell (back row) – The hometown flanker was Player of the Match the last time Toulon came to town, and he’s started this season in the same vein. McConnell was the chief tormentor of the Stormers lineout a fortnight ago and thrives on exactly the kind of physical battle Toulon will bring.

Magnus Bradbury (back row) – The co-captain was outstanding in Parma, carrying hard all afternoon before powering over under the posts for a richly deserved try. His ball-carrying and leadership will be central to taking the fight to a heavyweight Toulon pack.

Piers O’Conor (full-back) – The versatile back, who can cover centre, wing and full-back, crossed in the opening-night win in Belfast and brings a wealth of experience to a young backline. He knows what it takes to go all the way in this competition too, having lifted the Challenge Cup with Bristol Bears in 2020.

RC Toulon

Ben White (scrum-half) – The Scotland international scored twice at Hive Stadium last December and showed just how sharp he is around the ruck and the try line. Expect him to be fired up for another return to Scotland.

Huw Jones (centre) – A familiar face for Scottish fans. The British & Irish Lion swapped Glasgow for the Côte d’Azur this summer and returns to home soil with a point to prove ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.

Gael Fickou (centre) – One of the most decorated players in world rugby, the France centre brings vast international experience and defensive leadership to a midfield that Toulon have rebuilt around quality and composure.