VICTORIA College 1st XI cricket team will depart for the UK this week on their annual tour which includes the prestigious Castles Festival.
The team, travelling with Mr Smith and Mr Forrest, will play warm up matches at Christ College, Breacon today and Kings School, Worcester tomorrow before they start the Castles Festival at Monmouth Boys School in Wales on Sunday.
The festival will be the annual meeting of Monmouth, Kimbolton, New Hall and Victoria College, hosted on rotation between the 4 schools.
Monmouth have traditionally been one of the stronger schools in this festival.
Their recent record has been outstanding, winning all four of the last events dating back to 2022 and are chasing their fifth consecutive title on home soil.
Victoria College enter this year with a strong side filled with regular domestic Premier League stars, most notably their captain and 2025 JEP Young Cricketer of the Year, Barney Aston.
Aston is flanked by Jersey under 19 captain Sol Bennett, as well as Premier League regulars Ben Heelis, Freddie Harben and Theo Bell.
Victoria College Director of Sport and Master of Cricket, Matthew Smith said: ‘It is such an important part of the season for our boys as it gives us the chance to play a full week of really competitive cricket.
“It is always a pleasure to visit Monmouth and enjoy their great hospitality. We have a big challenge ahead, especially at the festival against Monmouth who are unbeaten now in several years, but it also a great chance for some of our players to really step up and show how good they are.”
Victoria College 1st XI squad: Barney Aston (c), Ben Heelis, Sol Bennett, Harry Le Brocq, Harry Cutting, Ed Hodgson, Jack Vowden, Hugo Gomersall, Callum Smith, Ollie Ferguson, Louie Pullman, Louis Bell, Freddie Harben, Theo Bell, Rufus Aston
