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Toulouse statement: The signing of Scotland's Blair Kinghorn

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Top 14 champions Toulouse have confirmed the signing of Scotland international Blair Kinghorn from Edinburgh. The French club were left with a vacancy in their roster when they confirmed last weekend that France full-back Melvyn Jaminet had secured a mid-season move to Toulon.

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That void will be now filled by Kinghorn, who is four appearances into his ninth season at Edinburgh and is set to play for them on Friday night versus Benetton in the URC ahead of his December 4 arrival across the Channel.

A Toulouse statement read: “The club is pleased to announce the arrival of 26-year-old Scottish player Blair Kinghorn from Edinburgh. With this recruitment, Stade Toulousain has secured the services of an international three-quarter with more than 100 club games of experience and 51 caps with the Scotland XV.

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“Blair Kinghorn is a versatile player, playing at fly-half, full-back and wing. The integration of such a profile (1m90, 101kg) will strengthen the professional squad and diversify it while supporting the progress of this young group.

“The player will be linked to Stade Toulousain for a period of three seasons and will arrive in the Pink City on December 4. Welcome to Toulouse, Blair!”

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Speaking on the Edinburgh club’s social media channels, Kinghorn said: “It’s an opportunity that has come forward for me. It will be something that is good for me to develop my career, develop my game. It is a big decision to move away from a club that I called home for nine seasons. I feel it is the right move for me and my family at this point in my career.”

Before the transfer was confirmed, Edinburgh boss Sean Everitt explained: “There has been a lot of speculation about Blair’s move to France, which we are aware of, and there are negotiations taking place but there is nothing formal yet.

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“We would like to have a final answer in the near future because it impacts on how we play the game and the depth we have in the squad. At the end of the day, a decision will be made that suits all three parties: the individual, Edinburgh and Scottish rugby.

“Being a professional, we have to trust that his mind’s on the job at hand, which is to play rugby and play as best he can against Benetton and Ulster.”

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Sumkunn Tsadmiova 346 days ago

“At the end of the day, a decision will be made that suits all three parties: the individual, Edinburgh and Scottish rugby….” Poppycock. At the end of the day Toulouse will decide what the deal is and how much they will pay to cherry pick the person they want immediately. So no respect to contract (bought out), no respect to player welfare (he’s bought out), and no respect to Edinburgh / Scottish rugby (they’re bought out). French teams are trampling all over British teams or, more specifically, the players they decide they need immediately to fill any sudden gaps. Their cheque book is hiding the whole sordid process. As Elliott Stooke found out at Montpellier when he was “suddenly surplus to requirements” quicker than Cockerill could clear his locker.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
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CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


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That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


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