European Challenge Cup

Harlequins (26) 57

Tries: Murley 2, Smith 2, Hobson, Riley, Evans 2, Staples Cons: Smith 6

Vannes (14) 19

Tries: De Benedittis, Benmegal 2 Con: Cotormanac’h 2

Harlequins put aside their difficulties in the early weeks of the new Prem season to start their 2026-27 Challenge Cup campaign with a welcome bonus-point win over French club Vannes.

Quins are bottom of the Prem after losing all three of their matches, but they were far too strong for their visitors, clocking up nine tries.

England back Marcus Smith contributed 22 points courtesy of two tries and six conversions, while there were two tries from captain Cadan Murley and Will Evans and further efforts from Will Hobson, Sam Riley and Jimmy Staples.

Vannes, who are bottom of the Top 14 with four losses out of four, contributed three tries of their own thanks to Wayan De Benedittis and two from winger Enzo Benmegal.

It was Quins’ first match at this stage of this competition since 2018 while the Prem outfit have won the Challenge Cup on a record-equalling three occasions, although not since 2011.

But rather than having to front up against a European powerhouse, they had a morale-boosting encounter against a side who won the Pro D2, France’s second tier, last season.

Murley and Smith started the scoring before De Benedittis crossed to get the visitors on the board.

Hobson powered over before a deliberate knock-on from Quins fly-half Smith saw him yellow-carded – and with a man less, Benmegal grabbed two tries, including one with a spectacular acrobatic finish.

But in between those, Murley had grabbed his second and with the numbers evened up, the English side dominated the remainder of the contest, as their forwards made hay.

Four of the next five tries came from the pack with Riley, Evans with two and replacement hooker Staples underlining that dominance.

The other try was a second for Smith as he swapped passes with Luke Northmore to claim a double after also grabbing two last Sunday at Sale Sharks in his first appearance of the season.

Harlequins will now look to take the confidence gained from this victory into their Prem derby at home to Saracens next Sunday as they try to get their league campaign up and running.

Harlequins: Furbank; Isgro, Northmore, Bradley, Murley; Smith, Friday; Hobson, Riley, Streeter, Dun, Treadwell, Petti Pagadizabal, Driscoll, Schmid.

Replacements: Staples, Johnson-Holmes, Delgado, E Williams, Browne, Evans, Porter, T Green.

Sin-bin: Smith (37)

Vannes: Jonas; Bard, Boulier, Tabuavou, Benmegal; Cotormanac’h, Kuruvoli; De Benedittis, Beziat, Medrano, Ployet, Desjeux, Pedemonte, Blanc-Mappaz, Brown.

Replacements: El Bibouji, Djehi, Bourgeois, Stegehuis, Paul, Alania, Gicquel, Taccola.

Sin-bin: Stegenhuis (77)

Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)