Gray makes long-awaited return in Toulouse win

Scotland lock Richie Gray returned from an injury enforced absence of almost five months to help Toulouse record a laboured 10-0 win at home to Top 14 strugglers Agen in Saturday’s Garonne derby.

The 29-year-old, pictured, missed Scotland’s summer tour and has taken time to regain full fitness. However, he appeared to be in good shape as he started for the first time since last season’s semi-final play-off defeat against his former club Castres on 19 May.

Toulouse went into Saturday’s match, played in heavy rain, on the back of two successive defeats, and Ugo Mola’s men were unconvincing in this latest showing, contested by the two sides with the worst defensive records in the league. All the points in a drab encounter came in the first half with Zack Holmes landing a penalty then converting a try by Sebastien Bezy.

However, it was a success for Gray who made a 58-minute contribution that included a lengthy spell on defensive duties.

The Scot’s return to action was overshadowed by the appearance of another long-term injury victim, Antoine Dupont. The 21-year-old local favourite had been out for eight months with a cruciate ligament rupture sustained when playing for France against Ireland in February.

Gray won the last of his 62 caps off the bench in Scotland’s narrow win over Italy on the final day of the Six Nations, having missed each of the previous rounds.

The autumn tests may come to soon for him to add to that tally – Gregor Townsend will name his squad on 17 October.