RC Toulon back Cheslin Kolbe says Friday’s EPCR Challenge Cup final against the Glasgow Warriors will be up there with the biggest games of his career.

The World Cup-winning South African featured in the competition’s showpiece game last year, but he and his Toulon teammates were defeated by Lyon in Marseille – the club’s fourth failure in the Challenge Cup final.

Kolbe, who won the Heineken Champions Cup with Stade Toulousain in 2021, has his sights firmly set on delivering Toulon a maiden EPCR Challenge Cup title this year.

“I was honored and lucky to have won the [Heineken] Champions Cup, but that’s all in the past now,” he said. “All the focus for me now is the final tomorrow, and wherever I can have a positive influence on the game and contribute toward the team, I’m more than willing to do so.

“I just want to go out there and express and enjoy myself. Obviously, it’s a massive opportunity and challenge, not just for me, but for the whole team.

“If you look at where we’ve come from and what the club has been through in the past few years, I think we’re in a good position to go out and enjoy this game we love so much and create memories on the field.

“It’s definitely up there [with the biggest games]. Every final you get to play in your rugby career will also be a memory that lasts forever.

“It’s always nice to be on the winning side of things, but being a part of a second Challenge Cup final, I would definitely rank it up there with all the finals I’ve been involved in.”

Meanwhile, Toulon back-row forward Cornell du Preez will be looking to utilize his experience of playing against Glasgow during his time with another Scottish region.

The 32-year-old South African spent five years at Edinburgh Rugby at the start of his career and believes his former side’s rival, Glasgow, has rediscovered the attacking form he used to associate with them.

“Glasgow is a team that loves to play attacking rugby,” he said. “They’ve always been like that, since I played there.

Miotti comes in at 10 💪
Richie Gray, Rory Darge and Johnny Matthews feature on a loaded subs bench on 🔥

Will @GlasgowWarriors take the trophy back to Scotstoun with this XV? 👀

Full teams 👉 https://t.co/xoJjWma0Bu pic.twitter.com/etsEZ64BU5

— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) May 18, 2023

“They went through a dip a few years ago, but now, I feel like they’ve found their identity again as a team.

“They’re a very well-coached team. They’re obviously very good in attack, but their set piece is pretty good, as well. In defense, they’ve got guys who can turn over the ball pretty quickly, as well.

“It’s going to be a big game for us, but I’m confident we’ve prepared well, and hopefully, it will be a good game on Friday.

“It’s a great opportunity for us as a team and for the club. We’ve been to a few finals in the past and just didn’t manage to get it over the line.

“We have another opportunity tomorrow to go out there and hopefully continue to create history.

“We’re definitely looking forward to the challenge, we know it’s not going to be easy and we know what it’s going to take.”