I was downing beers in budgie smugglers – now I’ve flown 10,000 miles to battle for once in a lifetime Lions opportunity

From downing beers half-naked in Paris after winning the Top 14 title to flying 10,000 miles to Brisbane – it’s been a mad few days for Blair Kinghorn.

The 28-year-old is now switching his attention to helping the British and Irish Lions seal back-to-back series victories against Australia.

Having starred since linking up with the Galacticos at big-spending Toulouse in 2023, Kinghorn had to remain in France until the conclusion of the national top-flight season.

And the campaign came to an end on Saturday night at Stade de France which saw Toulouse emerge victorious over Bordeaux in a pulsating 39-33 extra-time final win.

The French Rugby Federation, France's governing body, gives their Top 14 clubs the right to refuse the release of their players for international duty.

That includes the quadrennial Lions tour, which meant Kinghorn was the last member of the tour party to arrive in Australia.

Scotland fullback Kinghorn – favourite to wear the Lions Test No15 shirt – has went viral as he revelled in helping Toulouse secure back-to-back Top 14 crowns.

He was pictured in budgie smugglers celebrating the win in the stadium changing rooms with his team mates at 1am – just hours before the long flight to meet up with the Lions squad this morning in Brisbane.

And now Kinghorn has finally arrived on tour, he spoke exclusively to talkSPORT about what has been a chaotic few days.

He said: "I'm feeling good, I got in late last night, but it’s good to finally join the lads, I'm excited.

“[The last 48 hours] have been a bit of a whirlwind, a bit of a late night after we won and then straight on the plane to come out here."

Having missed the pre-tour training camp, the 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin was followed up by Saturday's morale boosting win over Western Force.

And Kinghorn knows he has ground to make up- but he’s more than up for the challenge.

The ex-Edinbugh star stated: "I haven't really had much time to think about [the Lions tour], I've been so focused on the Toulouse stuff and winning the Top 14.

“Only since the final has it been in the forefront of my mind.

"It's cool, it's good to come and join the boys, having seen all the boys join up and fly out together [while I’ve been] at home like, ‘Have I got FOMO?’

“But I have been so focused on winning the top 14 with Toulouse and that took over.

"I couldn't watch the first game [vs Argentina] because it was the same time as our semi-final, but I managed to catch the first half of the last game [vs the Western Forces].

“It's good to see the boys going out and doing well. Obviously now we're over in Australia, it feels real now."

It is imperative that Kinghorn learns the Lions play book, and that process will be helped by the presence of fellow Scotland backs Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Huw Jones and scrum half Ben White, who has been called into the squad following the injury to Tomos Williams.

Kinghorn explained: “It's fresh for me so I will have my head in the books learning over the next couple of days.

“Obviously it's challenging trying to put together a team quickly and I think the last game they played there, it shows when things click how dangerous a side that we can be. 

"It's all about learning and [developing] connections with everyone because it does take a little bit of time but like you say, when it goes well it's really good to watch.

"I think the squad in itself is massively competitive and that's what you want.

“It makes a squad thrive when it's competitive in every position, it makes you turn up every day, work your hardest and it keeps you on your toes.

“I'm sure everyone is fighting for the test spot but it’s a big squad effort at the end of the day.

"I think it will depend on how fast I can adapt and learn. The next week or so will be important."