EDINBURGH PREVIEW: Tonks relishing Edinburgh return

Greig Tonks is excited at the prospect of taking on his former club Edinburgh in the European Rugby Challenge Cup at New Myreside this Saturday (kick-off 7.35pm).

Tonks, 28, spent four seasons at Edinburgh where he scored six tries in 79 appearances for the Guinness Pro 14 club prior to his switch to Irish towards the end of the 2015/16 campaign.

Reflecting on his time at Edinburgh, the Scotland international said: “I’m very much looking forward to this weekend’s game and I have some good mates within the Edinburgh camp, so it will be good to catch up with them post-match.

“I have some good memories from my time there and it will be interesting to go up against them as an opposing player.”

Former Leicester Tigers boss Richard Cockerill was appointed Edinburgh’s director of rugby during the summer, the club’s hierarchy hoping that a change in management can yield success for the Scottish outfit.

A resounding 48-21 bonus point victory over Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth at the weekend keeps Edinburgh on course for a European Rugby Champions Cup berth.

“When I was with Edinburgh we were up and down, but they’re now getting things right on the field and with Cockerill in charge, they’re a hard to team to beat on home soil.

“Hopefully the weather holds up this weekend and we can assert ourselves on the game by playing some fast free-flowing rugby.

“We’ve got a positive game plan this week and there is a real hunger within this group to get back to winning ways.”   

On a personal note Tonks is bursting at the seams to pull on the London Irish jersey and underline his credentials as he challenges for a regular place in the starting XV.

Part of the Scotland side that defeated the Wallabies in Sydney last summer, Tonks added: “I really enjoyed the experience of playing for Scotland last summer and I want to get back to playing for my country.

“For now, I’m just focused on putting in good performances for London Irish and if I’m playing well for Irish then the rest will follow.”

London Irish welcome Stade Français to the Madejski Stadium on Saturday 16 December in the European Rugby Challenge Cup (kick-off 3pm). Under 13s tickets are £1 throughout the stadium and adult tickets are on sale from £18 from  www.lidirect.co.uk  or by calling 0118 968 1016.