the essential
In just six months, the Scot has become an essential cog in the Toulouse attack. In the London capital, this Saturday May 24, he will play his first final on the continental scene (3:45 p.m.).
An S-shaped nose. It was with this image that we left him on May 5, at the end of the semi-final won by Stade Toulousain against Harlequins (38-26). In the final moments of the match, Blair Kinghorn seriously injured his nose (fracture) when he collided head-on with an English opponent.
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A few minutes later, the Scottish full-back made fun of it on social networks by publishing a photo of his damaged face, accompanied by the caption: “Fantastic”. Blair Kinghorn does not lack humor and self-deprecation. But this injury has kept him away from the field for the last two weeks: he was left to rest during the reception at Stade Français and the trip to Montpellier.
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Staying warm during these two weeks of Top 14 games, the international fullback was back at collective training on Monday, with his teammates. He should be in great shape for the decisive match against Leinster which could offer him his first title on the European scene. Good news as the Scot has been walking on water since the start of the competition, notably scoring four tries and making a series of decisive runs which undermined opposing defenses.
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On the verge of choosing football
The story of Blair Kinghorn is above all that of a good football player who was once predicted to have a future at the professional level. A central defender because he was the tallest (1m95) and an undeniable talent with the ball – which serves him today on the rugby fields: “I did pretty well at football. I don’t know if I could have become a professional player but, at 13, I did indeed join Heart of Midlothian, one of the most prestigious clubs in the country”, he explained to our colleagues from Midi Olympique. But it was ultimately rugby that he chose, “the best decision of his life”, he said in hindsight.
After spending his entire career in the Scottish capital (2015-2023), Blair Kinghorn chose to take on a new challenge when Stade Toulousain called him. “The opportunity to come and play for one of the best clubs in the world, you would have to be stupid to refuse it,” he said. Arriving on November 23 to compensate for the departure of Melvyn Jaminet in Toulon, the player with 53 caps with the XV du Chardon very quickly integrated into the squad, the style of play and the Toulouse lifestyle. Very close to the Englishman Jack Willis, it is not uncommon to see them together walking in the streets of the Pink City.
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He jostled the unbeatable Ramos
On the pitch, it didn’t take long for Kinghorn to win the hearts of the “red and black” supporters either. His excellent performances have also put in difficulty the one we thought was untouchable in his position: Thomas Ramos. “Competition is always good,” says Kinghorn. “I thought about it a lot when Toulouse contacted me. I asked myself the question: ‘Will I really play if so many good players are playing? in the two positions where I feel most comfortable?”… Six months after his arrival, he has the answer to his question.
Saturday in London, Kinghorn will not be too much to help Stade Toulousain win its sixth star. For him, it would be his first.
His statistics in the European Cup:
Minutes played: 526
Points scored: 47
Number of attempts: 4
Meters traveled: 468
Defenders beaten: 19
Passes after contact: 8
