Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn is preparing for an emotional last home outing as an Edinburgh player against Benetton on Friday after it was confirmed that he will join Toulouse following next weekend's trip to Ulster.
The 26-year-old, who has been with his hometown team since 2015, had already intimated his intention to move to France upon expiry of his contract next summer but the Top 14 champions have agreed a six-figure release fee with the side from the Scottish capital to secure the mid-season signing of the back as a replacement for Toulon-bound Melvyn Jaminet.
Kinghorn admits it will be "sad" to say goodbye to the Edinburgh fans in his penultimate appearance – and final home match – against Benetton in the United Rugby Championship on Friday.
"This has been a really tough decision," Kinghorn told Edinburgh’s website.
"I’ve called this place home for nine years and have massive loyalty to this club. It gave me everything in my career so far and was the start of my professional rugby journey. I feel like they’ve really got the best out of me.
"Joining Toulouse is an opportunity that’s come forward that I think will be good for me as person, and to develop my career and my game. It’s a big decision, but I feel like it’s the right move for me.
"I’m really grateful to Edinburgh, for seeing this as great opportunity for me to develop personally and as a rugby player, but it is still going to be a sad day.
"It’s been a special journey and one that I’ve loved, and I can’t wait to run out there again this Friday night. It’s going to be really tough to leave, it’s going to be sad to say goodbye, but I’ll leave so grateful for everything here."
Edinburgh coach Sean Everitt admitted it will be a blow to lose Kinghorn(below), who has become Scotland’s first-choice full-back since Stuart Hogg retired earlier this year.
"Blair is an Edinburgh boy through and through, a home-grown club centurion and Scotland international – he’s certainly the type of quality player we’d have liked to retain in the blue and orange of Edinburgh Rugby," said Everitt.
"His intention to leave at the end of his current contract certainly played a part in our decision to agree to his premature release, as well as our well-documented strength and depth in the back three.
"It was on that basis we agreed reluctantly to this release in return for payment of a significant sum from Toulouse, which we’ll now consider carefully how best it can be reinvested in the club.
"We wish Blair all the very best in his new challenge in France and thank him for his commitment to the club."
Kinghorn has been selected in the starting XV for Friday’s match alongside nine other members of Scotland’s recent World Cup squad.
One of those is Scots captain Jamie Ritchie, who makes his 100th appearance for Edinburgh, while scrum-half Ali Price is handed his first start after his recent loan transfer from Glasgow.
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