South African adventurer Ron Rutland and his new partner Adam Nunn arrived in Windhoek on Friday as they cycle to the 2023 Rugby World Cup that will be held in France.

Ron, who is known for doing extreme cycling expeditions since the 2015 Rugby World Cup in London and the 2019 Rugby World in Japan, left Cape Town, South Africa on 15 January 2022.

In an interview with Nampa at their welcoming party organised by Promo Basket on Friday, the 47-year-old Rutland said he does extreme adventurers to raise funds for the less fortunate.

“In my mid 30’s I told myself I want to do something adventurous. I decided to do a trip that goes through mainland Africa but covers most of the African countries and I went through 45 African countries and three European countries and covered 42 000 kilometres on one bicycle to the 2015 Rugby World Cup in London,” he said.

Rutland added that in the past he had raised funds for projects supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation but since the 2019 Rugby World Cup he saw an opportunity to raise money and awareness for Rugby World Cup official charity partner, ChildFund Pass It Back.

“It’s a privilege to always cycle in Africa and people should just take two weeks of their lives to cycle from Cape Town to Namibia. It will be exciting to see all the sunsets and landscapes,” he said.

His partner, 28-year-old Nunn, who is doing such a trip for the first time, said he was happy to arrive in Windhoek on 28 January as they promised themselves.

“For two weeks we decided to test the relationship and see if it will work for the 45 000km we plan to cover through Asia, South America and Europe. Our first stop before the men’s world cup will be the Women’s Rugby World that will be held during October and November in New Zealand,” said Nunn.

The two adventurers will depart from Windhoek on a flight to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania before flying to Japan, where their cycling adventure will continue to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency