Ex Edinburgh teammates face off in France as Scotland caps star in Prem Cup win

The new United Rugby Championship campaign may not kick off till later this month but the Top 14 began with their first round of fixtures last weekend while the group stage of the Prem Cup also got started. There were a number of Scotland stars in action across both competitions despite the players involved in the most recent round of international Test matches not being available.

This included two former Edinburgh teammates going head-to-head and a pair of peripheral national team players linking up in a big win for their club. Here is a round-up of Scotland players in action last weekend:

Former Edinburgh teammates face off in Pro 14 opener as British & Irish Lion starts life at new club with a win

Hamish Watson’s Castres Olympique hosted Dave Cherry’s Vannes in the opening round of the Pro 14 this weekend. The 2021 British & Irish Lions flanker began life with his new club in France with a 29-20 victory, playing the full 80 minutes at number 8.

Cherry also started the match at hooker for the visitors and was replaced in the 58th minute by Samoan international Mills Sanerivi. The match marked Vannes first appearance in French top flight rugby having won the Pro D2 last season.

Meanwhile, it was a debut to forget for Huw Jones as he also came off the bench for new side Toulon, replacing Mathieu Smaïli in the 52nd minute, but couldn’t prevent them falling to a 27-26 defeat to Aviron Bayonnais. The final score does mean they at least left the Stade Jean-Dauger with a losing bonus point.

Adam Hastings also made his French debut as he came on as a 52nd minute replacement in Montpellier’s 27-19 home defeat to Pau. He briefly linked up with Ali Price before the scrum-half was himself replaced in the 63rd minute. Back rower Alex Masibaka also started and played just over an hour.

The final Scots in action were veteran lock Johnny Gray who played 57 minutes for USA Perpignan in their 28-26 away defeat to Stade Français while Rufus McLean started on the wing for the hosts. Ewan Johnson (Bayonnais), Rudi Brown (Vannes), Stuart Hogg (Montpellier) and Ben Healey (La Rochelle) did not feature in Round One.

Scotland caps link up for Sale Sharks in dominant Prem Cup win over Bath

Scrum-half Gus Warr and winger Arron Reed both started for Sale Sharks in their 50-28 Prem Cup Group Stage win at home to Bath. The pair linked up to provide a try for England international Joe Carpenter as Warr took a quick penalty tap to release Reed who slipped in the full-back.

Lock Cameron Henderson started for Leicester Tigers in their 45-21 away defeat to Harlequins while back rower Jack Mann slotted in at second row for Gloucester as they lost 43-40 away to Bristol Bears. Robbie Smith started at hooker for Northampton Saints in their whopping 96-42 defeat at the hands of Saracens.

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