SPORTS-MAD pupils from Durham School fly out today for a three-and-a-half-week rugby tour of Australia.

During the visit, the 45 youngsters will play first and second XV matches against schools in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Cairns.

But the highlight of the tour will be the school's participation in the World School Rugby Tens competition, in Sydney.

The event, which will be screened on Australian TV, will feature 34 schools from England, New Zealand and the host country.

A school spokesman said: "Durham School has a long and proud sporting tradition, especially in rugby, and pupils regularly represent regional and national schools sides.

"Several Old Dunelmians are currently playing club rugby at first team level.

"Last season, three former pupils represented England in the same weekend at different levels - Michael Stephenson at Under-18, Lee Best at Under-21 and Gareth Archer at full England level in the Six Nations Championship," he said.

"Our most successful Old Dunelmian rugby player was Mike Weston who captained England and toured with the British Lions in the 1960s."

The youngsters, who will be led by five staff, will also go on sight-seeing trips and plan to visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Blue Mountains.