‘Stupid to refuse’ – Scotland star explains mid-season Top 14 switch

Scotland star Blair Kinghorn has opened up on the reasons behind his mid-season switch from Edinburgh to Top 14 giants Toulouse.

The 26-year-old made the swift switch to the renowned club in December after Melvyn Jaminet left the side to join Toulon.

He made an immediate impact, scoring twice on debut for Toulouse in their 52-7 Champions Cup victory over Cardiff.

‘Stupid to refuse’

A high-profile move of this nature is uncommon in rugby, but Kinghorn believes that it would have been stupid of him to refuse the opportunity to join one of the biggest teams in France.

“Because it will make me a better player,” he told Actu Rugby when asked why he agreed to make the hurried move to the Top 14.

“The opportunity to come and play for one of the best clubs in the world, you had to be stupid to refuse it. It can only benefit me in the future.

“Of course, it will be a huge challenge. I almost want to say, it’s make or break for me. But I see something very exciting about it. I want to have to fight for my place every week, and that’s the case here when you see the quality of the squad.”

While the deal was struck to offset the departure of Jaminet to Toulon, Kinghorn’s versatility is a huge bonus for Toulouse with his ability to play across the back-three and at fly-half.

The Top 14 outfit is currently without the services of Romain Ntamack, who sustained an injury that ruled him out of the Rugby World Cup, with Thomas Ramos, usually a fullback, slotting in the role in his absence.

The defending Top 14 champions are also set to be without Antoine Dupont later on in the season, with the French captain chasing his Olympic Dream with the sevens team. Dupont has also filled the fly-half role on occasion for Toulouse, while rising star Baptiste Germain, the second-choice nine, has also stepped in when required.

Taking his game to new heights

Kinghorn believes that Toulouse can take his game up a level as he aims to become a world-class player, admitting that he had got a bit too comfortable at Edinburgh.

“I’ve been playing in Edinburgh for eight years, I’ve lived there all my life and at some point, it started to get too comfortable,” he explained.

“Over the last three years, I have continued to improve, but I want to progress even further and become a world-class player, and I think Toulouse is the perfect place for that.

“The framework offered to progress here is incredible. The club got in touch with my agent; they needed someone this season, and it kind of hit me!”

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