A laissez-faire approach to rugby was always going to be one that suited Blair Kinghorn, about as relaxed as any professional rugby player you are likely to encounter, and the Scotland fullback is thriving since moving from Edinburgh to Toulouse at the turn of the year.  

He's been a virtual ever-present at fullback since joining the French giants, and will start there on Sunday when the Rouge et Noir face Harlequins in the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals.

Kinghorn is part of a Galacticos back division that includes World Player of the Year Antoine Dupont, his French team-mates Romain Ntamack and Thomas Ramos, Argentina wing Juan Cruz Mallia and Italian star Ange Capuozzo, to name just a few.  

Scotland Rugby News: France half-back duo Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont are two of Kinghorn's club colleaguesFrance half-back duo Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont are two of Kinghorn's club colleagues (Image: SNS)

If Kinghorn was part of a formidable back three alongside Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe at Edinburgh, the rouge et noir squad is truly an embarrassment of riches in every department.  

Speaking to the press for the first time since making the move, Kinghorn said he feels at home in the city.  

The 27-year-old said: “It’s been really good, it’s been a great experience so far.  

“It all happened very quickly but since the Six Nations finished I’m feeling more settled here, not having to go back and forwards to Scotland.  

“I feel like the club has been very good for me and I feel like I’m developing as a player. I’m really enjoying it, it’s awesome.” 

He admitted the move has taken him out of his comfort zone both on and off the rugby pitch and acknowledged that is something he needed to experience having become “stagnant” at Edinburgh.  

He said: “I’m out my comfort zone but I feel like it’s a good thing, for sure. 

“I didn’t know what to expect, really, especially with a club of this magnitude. It’s very exciting but it’s also a pressure.” 

Scotland Rugby News: Blair Kinghorn in action for EdinburghBlair Kinghorn in action for Edinburgh (Image: SNS)

Kinghorn said he felt he wasn’t getting the best out of himself latterly at Edinburgh and alluded to becoming complacent within the confines of the Scottish Rugby set-up.  

He explained: “I just feel that I could have been better than I was.  

“That’s probably a bit on me as well, not working hard enough potentially, not having to fight week in, week out for a spot in the Edinburgh team.  

“I feel that having a change up, getting into an environment where the coaches don’t know you and you have to prove yourself all over again.  

“It’s not a kick up the arse but it’s a sink or swim moment.  

“It’s not like I didn’t work at my time in Edinburgh – I worked really hard – but maybe just the extra 10 percent of using my brain more if that makes sense.  

“Getting out of your comfort zone can make you better, and that was the driving factor. I didn’t want to just sit and be a good player. I wanted to move and improve and become a great player.” 

Part of becoming a great player involves winning trophies. Kinghorn can take a step towards that goal on Sunday. 

Scotland Rugby News: Toulouse are five-times Champions Cup winnersToulouse are five-times Champions Cup winners (Image: Getty Images)

These are the days he has longed to play in. They are days Toulouse, record five-times winners of the top European prize, expect not just to feature in, but to win.

 Kinghorn added: “It’s a massive European knockout game, something that I’ve not been able to play in in my career.  

“The feeling at the club is that everyone wants to win and progress. The mentality here is that everyone wants to win trophies.” 

He said the club’s pedigree as a European superpower was part of the lure. 

“Whenever you dream about rugby games you dream about big knockout European games or big domestic knockout games, so it was a big influence in the decision to come here. 

“The quality of the players in the team was also a big draw to me.  

“I know I am potentially not going to be playing week in, week out if I am not performing and I feel like that is only going to drive me to become better.” 

The 53-times capped Scotland reiterated his commitment to Scotland in the long-term, while in the more immediate future suggested he is yet to speak to Gregor Townsend about whether he’ll tour in the summer.  

Given the Top 14 final – a match Toulouse will expect to be in - is slated for June 28, and the developmental nature to Scotland’s summer schedule, Kinghorn should expect some time off after a long season.  

Scotland Rugby News: Blair Kinghorn in action during Scotland's 2024 Calcutta Cup win. He made his Test debut in the 2018 win over England.Blair Kinghorn in action during Scotland's 2024 Calcutta Cup win. He made his Test debut in the 2018 win over England. (Image: SNS)

But in the long-term, he hopes to bring some of what he’s learning in Toulouse into the national set-up.  

“I feel like this is only going to develop me into being a better player for Scotland,” he said.  

“The stuff I learn here is going to help me excel at my own game and then I can bring that, hopefully with some good form for Scotland.” 

He had to get used to travelling back and forward between Toulouse and Edinburgh during the 'fallow’ Six Nations weeks, which the home-based players have off.  

Kinghorn said that is just something he’ll have to adjust to.  

“It's something I'll have to get used to, travelling back and forward during a campaign, but my commitment is still there for the Scottish jersey,” he added.   

Back to the task at hand, and if Kinghorn – who scored 23 points in the quarter-final thrashing of Exeter – can help Toulouse overcome Glasgow’s last 16 conquerors Harlequins, he could dare to dream of an appearance in the final.  

Asked what it would mean to him to win the Champions Cup, Kinghorn replied: “It would be mental I reckon!  

“It is something if you’d asked me a year ago that I thought potentially would never happen. 

“So it would be absolutely mental but one game at a time. It would be awesome to play in the semi-final and if we win just keep on trucking.”