Darcy Graham returns three weeks early to boost Scotland ahead of Nations Championship

Darcy Graham will make a strikingly early comeback from injury when Edinburgh host Toulon in the Challenge Cup at Hive Stadium on Friday, with the Scotland and British & Irish Lions wing named in the starting XV just weeks after suffering a ruptured bicep.

Graham had been expected to miss at least 12 weeks after sustaining the injury during Edinburgh’s pre-season friendly against Harlequins last month — a timeline that pointed to a return no earlier than Christmas. Instead, he has recovered in little more than three weeks since Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt publicly outlined the severity of the problem.

The 29-year-old’s return is a significant boost for Scotland with the Nations Championship approaching. He comes in on the right wing in one of two changes from the side that beat Zebre last week to top the United Rugby Championship table, with Malelili Satala switching to the left flank. Tom Currie is the other change, promoted into the back row for his first start of the season.

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

Everitt expressed enthusiasm ahead of Edinburgh’s first European fixture of the season. “The energy around the squad this week has been great,” he 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: O’Conor; Graham, M. Currie (co-captain), Tuipulotu, Satala; Grayson, Patterson; Schoeman, Ashman, Blyth-Lafferty, Hunter-Hill, Young, T. Currie, Douglas, Bradbury (co-captain). Replacements: J. Blyth-Lafferty, Stewart, Hill, Gilchrist, McVie, McAlpine, Gwynn, McHaffie.