LONDON — Harlequins put their Premiership struggles behind them to open their 2026-27 Challenge Cup campaign with a commanding 57-19 bonus-point victory over French side Vannes in London, running in nine tries to secure maximum points.
England back Marcus Smith led the scoring with 22 points from two tries and six conversions and has now scored four tries in two games for Harlequins. Captain Cadan Murley and Will Evans both crossed twice, with further tries from Will Hobson, Sam Riley and replacement hooker Jimmy Staples. Vannes replied through Wayan De Benedittis and two tries from winger Enzo Benmegal, with two conversions from Cotormanac'h. Murley and Smith had put Harlequins ahead before De Benedittis got the visitors on the board, and Hobson powered over to extend the lead before Smith was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on. With a man less, Benmegal struck twice, including a spectacular acrobatic finish, though Murley added his second in between.
Harlequins are bottom of the Prem after losing all three of their matches, while Vannes are bottom of the Top 14 with four defeats from four after winning the Pro D2, France's second tier, last season. It was Harlequins' first match at this stage of this competition since 2018, and the Prem outfit have won the Challenge Cup on a record-equalling three occasions, although not since 2011. Rather than facing a European powerhouse, they enjoyed a morale-boosting encounter against the newly promoted French side.
With 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 through Riley, Evans with two and Staples, while Smith completed his double after swapping passes with Luke Northmore, having also grabbed two tries last Sunday at Sale Sharks in his first appearance of the season. Harlequins will now look to take the confidence from this victory into their Prem derby at home to Saracens next Sunday as they try to get their league campaign up and running.