From Twickenham to Tokyo: The epic journeys of England fans
As Eddie Jones and his England squad travel from Heathrow to Tokyo today they will fly over several England fans.
In just 11 hours the squad will have made more progress than those who have spent close to half a year travelling on two wheels and on four, by bike and by car, on land and across sea to reach Japan.
But for these fans, the time it would take was never an issue. In fact it was part of the appeal.
England Rugby caught up with each of them on various stages of their remarkable adventures.
The Hairy Handlebars
“I think it was over a pint that we finally decided to do this,” says 23-year-old Ben, one half of the Hairy Handlebars.
Speaking from the side of a road just south of Beijing, Ben and his friend George explain what led them to decide to spend over five months cycling 6,000 miles across 20 countries to Japan.
“Neither of us have ever done anything like this before but we both wanted to explore the world and at the same time there were some really important causes to us that we wanted to raise money for,” says Ben.
The duo played rugby together at Bishop’s Stortford RFC with George going on to represent London Scottish while Ben continued to play while serving as a Royal Marine Commando.
So far they have raised over £30,000 for Movember with 10% of donations going to the Ian Williams Foundation in memory of the former Doncaster Knights player.
The trip has seen them cross Europe before travelling through central Asia and into China where they are now in their final few days.
“The generosity of people has been completely overwhelming throughout," says George.
"In Uzbekistan we were invited as a guests of honour to a two day wedding.”
They have camped most of the way, pitching up whenever their weary legs are done for the day.
With Japan in sight, the fact that they have actually almost completed this mammoth task is now slowly dawning on them.
“That part of it has started to kick in now which is cool, actually being at the World Cup will be amazing," says Ben. .
Follow the Hairy Handlebars on Instagram and Twitter. And visit their website and donate here.
Inspiring McIntosh helps raise awareness
If a former professional rugby player and Royal Marine Commando have found cycling across the world challenging then you may expect a 62-year-old triple cancer survivor to find it impossible.
You would be wrong. But Patrick McIntosh isn’t a typical 62-year-old. Setting off for Japan on two wheels was just the latest in a series of astonishing feats he has conquered including climbing Everest, sailing across the Atlantic and walking to the South Pole.
Speaking from Vladivostok having spent 60 days cycling through Russia, McIntosh reflects on his latest adventure.
“It sounds strange to say this for a 62-year-old who has had cancer three times but physically I have found it pretty easy,” says McIntosh.
“I have been able to maintain between 70 and 100 miles a day but the more challenging thing has been the mental side of it.”
Rather than crossing Central Asia McIntosh opted to cycle all the way through Russia, facing some incredibly challenging weather conditions on the journey.
“It has been awesome but I’m awfully relieved to have got across Russia.
“The scenery didn’t change much for days on end so that was difficult and the climatic conditions have been very hard.
“But I’ve been surprised and delighted every day by Russia. The people and food are amazing and the internet has been great so I’ve been able to follow England’s warm up games!”
Perhaps the biggest obstacle has been having his bike stolen forcing him to travel to the nearest town to buy a new one.
McIntosh has raised close to £50,000 on this trip to help raise awareness for early diagnosis of cancer having battled prostate, skin and bowel cancer.
He will now be sailing across to Korea before crossing to Japan where he has tickets to the opening ceremony and first match.
The big question is, after spending the last decade of his life taking on these challenges, what is next?
“Having sailed across the Atlantic, walked to the end of the earth and now cycled to Japan I think this may finally be it,” says McIntosh.
“Maybe I’ll change my mind when I’m finished but for now I just can’t wait to get there and see England play, I think we can go all the way this time.”
To follow his journey and donate, click here.
Amber the Ambulance
Mark and Sue’s adventure actually began four years ago when Mark, a volunteer driver at Rugby World Cup 2015, was asked by Sue where the next tournament was being held.
“I told her it was in Japan and she said, ‘why don’t we drive there?’. It was as simple as that.”
At the time of speaking the couple have been on the road for 102 days, making their way through a similar route as the Hairy Handlebars but in a converted 1997 military ambulance that they have named ‘Amber.’
“We have been getting a lot of attention,” says Mark. “Every day there is an adventure or something different.
“Mongolia was awesome, very rough hard roads and very difficult driving. We have been wild camping anywhere we can find, in the desert, in the woods.”
The Exeter Chiefs season ticket holders, from a village in Devon called Hemyock, have never been on a trip like this before but have been making the most of it.
A chance meeting with a teacher in South Korea led to them being invited to a school near the demilitarised zone where they gave a talk on their journey and the Rugby World Cup.
“Watching that 2003 final in the pub on a big screen was an unforgettable memory and we just can’t wait to be there in person and get behind the team.”
It is two weeks until England run out at the Sapporo Dome for the first game, a moment that will be watched by fans in the stadium and all over the world and it will be a particularly meaningful moment for Ben, George, Patrick, Mark and Sue as it marks the end of their extraordinary journeys.
