Leaving on 13th July, the 35 Senior and Sixth Form pupils and five staff will embark on a thrilling adventure, with King's returning to the land down under for the first time since 2017.
The tour, involving two competitive teams and supported by five experienced staff members, will feature 10 fixtures against top-level opposition. It has been carefully timed to coincide with the prestigious British and Irish Lions Tour, allowing the touring party to attend the first Test match in Brisbane against the Wallabies, marking the first time in school history that a King’s tour has included a Lions fixture.
Their Australian journey begins on the Gold Coast, where the students will embrace surf lessons, water park visits and acclimatise to the Southern Hemisphere in style. The squad will then travel to Sydney, taking on some of the country’s most prestigious rugby schools from the famed GPS circuit, including St. Joseph’s, Gregory Terrace and Nudgee College. Beyond the pitch, the itinerary is packed with iconic experiences: a visit to Bondi Beach, a jet boating tour of Sydney Harbour and a night at the NRL to watch the Sydney Roosters in action.
The final leg of the tour takes the team to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where they will face a nationally selected Barbarians XV.
Cultural exploration remains a key part of the journey, with visits to the Batu Caves and the Petronas Twin Towers rounding off the tour.
King's Head of Rugby Giles Hetherington, who is missing the trip to be with his wife as they await their second baby, said: "The King's School is proud to offer its students a truly global sporting and cultural experience, one that will undoubtedly create memories to last a lifetime."
