Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt has expressed his trust in Blair Kinghorn, who is set to play his final home game for the club against Benetton on Friday night. Kinghorn, who has been linked with a move to French giants Toulouse, scored two tries in his last appearance at Hive Stadium, but could not prevent his side from losing 22-24 to the Italian outfit.
Kinghorn’s contribution to Edinburgh
Kinghorn, who joined Edinburgh in 2015, has been one of the club’s most consistent and versatile players, featuring in various positions across the backline. He has made 115 appearances for the club, scoring 33 tries and 318 points. He has also represented Scotland 31 times, scoring eight tries.
The 25-year-old has been praised by Everitt for his professionalism and commitment to the club, despite the speculation over his future. Everitt said that Kinghorn has been “fantastic” in training and in games, and that he has not let the rumours affect his performance.
“He’s been very focused on what he needs to do for Edinburgh and he’s been very respectful of his teammates and the club,” Everitt said. “He’s a quality player and a quality person and we’re very lucky to have him.”
Kinghorn’s potential move to Toulouse
According to reports, Kinghorn has agreed to join Toulouse in January 2024, after the end of his contract with Edinburgh. The deal is said to be worth around £500,000 per year, making him one of the highest-paid players in the world.
Toulouse, who are the reigning European and French champions, are keen to add Kinghorn to their star-studded squad, which includes the likes of Antoine Dupont, Cheslin Kolbe and Romain Ntamack. Kinghorn is seen as a versatile and creative option, who can play at full-back, wing or fly-half.
Kinghorn has not confirmed or denied the rumours, saying that he is focused on his current club and that he will make a decision on his future at the right time. He said that he is grateful for the opportunity to play for Edinburgh and that he wants to finish his stint with the club on a high note.
“I’ve loved my time here and I’ve learned a lot from the coaches and the players,” Kinghorn said. “It’s been an honour to wear the jersey and to play in front of the fans. I want to give my best for the club until the end of the season and then I’ll see what happens.”
Edinburgh’s hopes for the season
Despite the loss to Benetton, Edinburgh are still in contention for a top-four finish in the United Rugby Championship, which would secure them a place in the play-offs. They are currently sixth in the table, with four wins and three losses from their seven games.
Everitt said that he is confident that his team can bounce back from the defeat and challenge for the title. He said that he is proud of the effort and the character that his players have shown, and that he believes that they have the quality and the depth to compete with the best teams in the competition.
“We’re not going to let one game define our season,” Everitt said. “We’ve shown that we can play some exciting and effective rugby, and we’ve also shown that we can grind out results when we need to. We’ve got a lot of talent and a lot of hunger in this squad, and we’re going to keep working hard and keep improving.”
Edinburgh’s next game is against Ulster on Saturday, December 2, at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. The game will kick off at 19:35 GMT and will be broadcast live on Premier Sports.
