The 2023 end of season Tour for the Lions and 1st XV took the team to Portugal for 4 days between 09-12 June for a long weekend of fun, festivities and a small amount of rugby. We travelled to Coimbra in the North of Portugal, home of our very own Sergio Bebiano and played his boyhood club - AGRARIA. Our hosts were hugely gracious with organising transport, a fantastic day at their club and their local contacts to provide remarkably good accommodation for a touring side! Indeed, AGRARIA proved a most competitive team on the day which contributed to a a number of amusing side shows when the game was underway. Both AGRARIA RUGBY and the City of Coimbra were hugely welcoming with socials going long into the early hours and cafe's and bars doing a roaring trade throughout. We made many new friends and all 30 of the tourists had an amazing time.

Touring is a huge part of rugby and discussions are already underway as to next year's tour. It reinforces the club vision of instilling a lifelong love of the game and if our hosts are anything to go by, the game of rugby continues to provide this love everywhere. Naturally, the tour bible governs how much can actually be shared about the tour, but the image will show a glimpse of the camaraderie gained over the course of the trip.
Thank you so much AGRARIA for a wonderful few days and you will be welcome to Horsham always.