Connect with us
[smartslider3 slider="2"]

Rugby

PREVIEW: Maiden Challenge Cup title beckons for Glasgow Warriors and Toulon in Dublin final

Glasgow Warriors and Toulon clash at the Aviva Stadium with both outfits looking to win their first ever Challenge Cup title.

Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Glasgow Warriors and Toulon clash at the Aviva Stadium with both outfits looking to win their first ever Challenge Cup title.

Jamie Moore's Diary - jockey talks Goshen and Ascot rides

Friday 19 May

Glasgow Warriors 9/5 | Draw 22/1 | Toulon 42/100

Despite their hugely disappointing home quarterfinal defeat to Munster (a game in which they were reduced to 14 men after the sending off of flyhalf Tom Jordan in the 25th-minute), Warriors have enjoyed a memorable campaign under Franco Smith which has culminated in this their first ever European final.

The Glaswegians went on a fantastic 10-game unbeaten run (including nine wins) in all comps from December to February, which powered them up the URC ladder and finally enabled them to seal fourth spot – a marked improvement on their eighth-place finish last year.

Many were quick to raise their eyebrows when skipper Kyle Steyn stated that his side’s goal was to win the URC this season, and while they haven’t quite made good on that ambitious target, they still have the opportunity to finish with silverware in the Irish capital this weekend.

Toulon have been far from spectacular on the domestic front, currently occupying eighth with a playoff berth seemingly out of reach, but have yet another shot at finally securing a maiden Challenge Cup triumph on Friday.

Interestingly, the southern French club have a three from three record in Champions Cup finals but have fallen in all four of their appearances in Challenge Cup title deciders, including last year’s defeat to Lyon.

A second-string Toulon side were on the receiving end of a big hiding at Racing 92 on the weekend, but the big guns will be back and raring to go here.

Glasgow have been superb this season, but they face a massive test in the form of a Toulon outfit which boasts such experienced leaders as Dan Biggar, Charles Ollivon and Sergio Parisse – the latter of whom is set to retire (yet again) in the coming weeks. It’s difficult looking past Franck Azéma’s men.

Warriors at (+8) 13/20.

Jamie Moore's Diary - jockey talks Goshen and Ascot rides

More in Rugby