Four English players named for Toulon's Champions Cup mission to Dublin

There’s no-little English intrigue in the line-up for Toulon when they face Leinster Rugby in the Investec Champions Cup semi-final at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Toulon DoR Pierre Mignoni has selected three English players in a typically star-studded starting selection, with a fourth named on the bench for the titanic clash in the Irish capital.

Kyle Sinckler, David Ribbans and Junior Kpoku are all named in the starting XV as the three-time winners are bidding to make their first Champions Cup final since 2015, where they beat Clermont to lift their third trophy.

Indeed, it’s been a minute for Toulon in European glory stakes. They enjoyed three years of unbroken dominance in the competiton between 2013 and 2015, although they did lift the EPCR Challenge Cup in 2023.

Sinckler starts at tighthead prop, while Ribbans captains the side from the second row and Kpoku packs down at blindside flanker.

The visitors field an experienced backline, led by Melvyn Jaminet at full-back, with rising star Gael Drean and Setariki Tuicuvu on the wings.

Italy’s Nacho Brex and Jeremy Sinzelle combine in midfield, while Argentina international Tomas Albornoz is trusted at fly-half alongside Scotland scrum-half Ben White.

Up front, Jean-Baptiste Gros and Teddy Baubigny join Sinckler in the front row, with Corentin Mezou partnering skipper Ribbans in the engine room.

Charles Ollivon starts at openside flanker and Mikheil Shioshvili completes the back row at number eight.

Former England, Bath and Gloucester star Zach Mercer, France international Baptiste Serin and Italy’s Gianmarco Lucchesi are among the high-profile options on a replacements bench that will face the Irish URC champions.

Toulon: 15. Melvyn Jaminet, 14. Gaël Drean, 13. Nacho Brex, 12. Jérémy Sinzelle, 11. Setariki Tuicuvu, 10. Tomas Albornoz, 9. Ben White, 1. Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2. Teddy Baubigny, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Corentin Mezou, 5. David Ribbans (c), 6. Junior Kpoku, 7. Charles Ollivon, 8. Mikheil Shioshvili

Replacements: 16. Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17. Daniel Brennan, 18. Beka Gigashvili, 19. Matthias Halagahu, 20. Zach Mercer, 21. Baptiste Serin, 22. Esteban Abadie, 23. Mathis Ferte