Scotland receive unexpected injury boost in time for Nations Championship

Darcy Graham will make a remarkably early return from injury after being named in Edinburgh’s starting XV to face Toulon in the Challenge Cup at Hive Stadium on Friday.

The British & Irish Lions wing was initially expected to miss at least 12 weeks after rupturing a bicep during Edinburgh’s pre-season friendly against Harlequins last month, an injury that appeared likely to keep him sidelined until Christmas.

Instead, Graham has recovered in time to make his first appearance of the season against the French giants, little more than three weeks after Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt outlined the severity of the problem.

The 29-year-old is one of two changes from the side that beat Zebre last week to top the United Rugby Championship table, replacing Malelili Satala on the right wing, with Satala switching to the opposite flank. Tom Currie is promoted into the back-row for his first start of the campaign.

Scotland lock Grant Gilchrist also returns from injury among the replacements and is set for his first appearance of the season.

“The energy around the squad this week has been great, as we move into our first European match of the season,” Everitt said.

“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.”

Edinburgh XV: 15 Piers O’Conor; 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie (co-captain), 12 Mosese Tuipulotu, 11 Malelili Satala; 10 James Grayson, 9 Hector Patterson; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 5 Glen Young, 6 Tom Currie, 7 Freddy Douglas, 8 Magnus Bradbury (co-captain).
Replacements: 16 Jerry Blyth-Lafferty, 17 Jamie Stewart, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Euan McVie, 21 Conor McAlpine, 22 Geordie Gwynn, 23 Rory McHaffie.