World in Union Scroll : Cycling to the Rugby World Cup

"Exporing the sport, raising awareness, and connecting the world through rugby"

Our mission, besides cycling 30,000km, is to deliver a message at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. We want to obtain a signature from each nation that we cycle, an iconic figure, a legend of the people, to show that countries of different regions, beliefs and cultures, can stand side by side together in harmony.

To us, our journey is a way of breaking down the walls between cultures, to live and understand the grey areas between people and their religions. Through rugby, we hope to discover that the world is not as segregated as we are led to believe. Perhaps there is a ‘path of rugby’ that can lead us to our destination, a path of one universal language and passion? We certainly hope so, and if not, we’ll take a few bricks and begin building one.

We can happily announce that our "World in Union" scroll will be displayed at the new Museum of Rugby in New Zealand during the Rugby World Cup 2011.

The “World in Union” scroll legends:

Name				Profile Pic
Name: Steve Borthwick Country: England Profile: Former national player and captain "Steve Borthwick was captain of England between 2008 and 2010 and was part of the 2007 Rugby World Cup Squad in France. Despite missing out on selection for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, he captained his club, Saracens RFC to a Unilever Premiership title in 2011. We thank Steve for taking the time out of his professional responsibilities to support our grassroots rugby project, a true gentleman."
Michael Owen Country: Wales Profile: Former national captain and British & Irish Lions "In 2002 Michael became the 1,000th player to have been capped by Wales in a test against South Africa. He captained the country to a Grand Slam at the 2005 Six Nations and the same year also captained the British & Irish Lions on a test in the 2005 tour to New Zealand. At just 29 years old, he was forced to take early retirement due to a persistant knee injury and has subsequently stepped into the coaching environment, helping Hertford RFC to division II status in 2011"
Cobus Visagie Country: South Africa Profile: Former national player "Cobus was capped 29 times by South Africa and was regarded as a cornerstone of their 1999 Rugby World Cup first XV. He also earned 8 caps for the Barbarians and 3 further caps for a World XV. Since retiring in 2009, Cobus has stepped into a coaching role with his UK club Saracens"
Jacques Burger Country: Namibia Profile: National player and captain "Jacques Burger is the captain of the Namibia National team. In April 2010, we met Jacques in London and he wished us good luck with the cycle. 6 weeks later, we'd slipped his memory, and after a bruising encounter he very vaguely recalled the situation; "ah yeah - I thought you guys were walking or something?' He has already featured at the Rugby World Cup in 2007 and recently captained his country to victory in the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest 2010. At club level, he was a dynamic force in their successful 2011 Unilever Premiership title"
Mosese Rauluni Country: Fiji / Pacific Islands XV Profile: Former national player and captain "Mosese was capped by Fiji and the Pacific Islands on 52 occasions, captaining both on many occasions. He is the first cousin of 7s legend Waisale Serevi, and was considered one of the best half backs during the Rugby World Cup in 2007, a tournament where Fiji knocked out Wales and pushed the champions South Africa during a thrilling Quarter final encounter"
Chris Wyles Country: USA Profile: National player and 7s captain "Chris is current captain of the USA 7s side and since an impressive display at the Rugby World Cup 2007, has been an automatic selection at full back for the Eagles in XVs. He heads into the RWC 2011 with some impressive form having just won the Unilever Premiership with Saracens RFC in 2011"
Phillipe Country: Belgium Profile: Coach and former national player	Phillipe Country: Belgium Profile: Coach and former national player	Phillipe Ernst Country: Belgium Profile: U17 Coach and former national player
"We visited the rugby club Royal Liege to find an insight into Belgium rugby history and we did just that. However, when you find 3 men, all former National players with national coaching experience, and with the same first name, it's hard to choose between them. So we didn't"
Adam Taylor Country: Spain Profile: National U21 player		Shaun Smith Country: Zimbabwe Profile: Former National player	Martin Strauch Country: Germany Profile: National player
"We met our trio at RC Heidelberg in Germany, a true reflection of the international community that ply their trade in the German domestic league. Shaun former scrum half for Zimbabwe, Adam with Spanish U21 caps and Martin the homegrown talent playing both 7s and 15s for the German national teams"
Claus-Peter Bach Country: Germany Profile: President of German Union & Former National player "There are few better experiences than to be shown a side of your sport that you never realised existed. Claus-Peter, son of the former German vice captain took us for a tour of the German rugby museum, as we discovered an era in rugby when only the French could stop them during the days of Olympic rugby. Both Claus-Peter and his father were integral figures in the German national pack in their playing careers"
Eduard Krutzner Country: Czech Republic Profile: Former National captain and coach "Moving from a car factory to national basketball player in a year is a fine achievement, but to turn that into a national rugby career followed by several years of captaincy is proof of a true sportsman. Eduard, has become the heart and soul of our project and without his belief and support, our dream would not have been possible. He lives and breathes rugby and is well loved across the many countries he has graced throughout his playing and coaching career."
Rudi Glock Country: Austria Profile: National player and U17 national coach "Born in South African, Rudi headed to Austria to explore his Austrian heritage and help develop the Austrian rugby scene. He plays outside centre for the national side, coaches the U17 national side and helps orchestrate much of the country's youth rugby development programs"
Pal Turi Country: Hungary Profile: International player and President of Hungarian Rugby Union "There are few players in world rugby with a bigger smile than Pal Turi from Kecskemét. He is one of Hungary's most capped players and in 2010 was still being picked at centre, despite having coaching duties and sitting as President of the Hungarian Rugby Union. We love the Hungarian rugby community, and Pal is a huge reason for that."
Tedo Zibzibadze Country: Georgia Profile: National player and former captain "Tedo is a Georgian crowd favourite with over 50 caps at national level and several as captain. He was a first choice selection at centre in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and is one of the few domestic based players to have been a regular selection since 2000. Most of the Georgian national side are full time professionals in the French Top 14"
Haralambie (Hari) Dumitras Country: Romania Profile: Former International captain "Hari played number 8 during the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups, scoring a try in the process. He was capped 47 times in all, taking over the captaincy in 1990 following the tragic death of Florică Murariu in the 1989 revolution. Hari led the side to their only victory against the French on French soil in 1991 and to a creditable 1991 RWC campaign defeating Fiji in the group stage"
Ivan Ivanov Country: Bulgaria Profile: Former National captain and coach "What would it feel like to be the first ever domesitc rugby player in your country? We will never know, but Ivan Ivanov, a college triple jumper was convinced into trying the game by a French college professor, later becoming the national fly half, captain, and subsequent coach"
Plamen Kirov Country: Bulgaira Profile: Former National captain "Plamen was the Bulgarian full back and captain during the final years of genuine Bulgarian rugby strength. In the late 80s, they regularly competed in an Eastern European "Peace and Friendship" competition with the likes of Russia, Romania and Czechoslavakia. Bulgaria's greatest victory during this period was in defeating the Soviet Union"
Hakan Unsal Country: Turkey Profile: Co-founder of Turkish rugby "Hakan is one of 3 co-founders of rugby in Turkey. Having studied in both England and the United States, he had many years of playing experience before returning to his home in Istanbul. Hakan led the birth of Turkish rugby by creating the first ever Turkish rugby team, the Istanbul Ottomans, and instigating the first organised Turkish Rugby Union. Recently, the Ottomans have organised the successful Istanbul 7s competition featuring sides from around the globe"
Eldegiz Rafibeyli Country: Azerbaijan Profile: National Player and President of Azerbaijan Rugby Union "Some jobs in rugby are tough, but some are tougher than others. Being the captain, president, number 8 and part time coach presents it's own difficulties, but having to bribe your own mates to travel with you to Bosnia for a fixture, takes the role to another level. Eldegiz personifies everything great about rugby, and is now developing a schools rugby proposal further to an existing orphanage rugby scheme"
H.Sadeghi Country: Iran Profile: President of Iranian Union "Aquiring Mr Sadeghi as president of the Iranian rugby union was perhaps the single most influential event in the country's young rugby history. Mr Sadeghi has taken the country's rugby activities to new levels, dealing with political and religious issues associated with a sport considered to be a symbol of the West. The Iranian team have progressed from Asia regionals to Asia II in 3 successive seasons"
Ghaith Jalajel Country: Jordan Profile: Former National player and Technical Secretary of UAE Rugby Association "A former national player for Jordan, Ghaith was also an integral part of the Arabian Gulf Rugby Union. When the AGRU was disbanded in 2010, Ghaith became Technical Secretary to the new UAE Rugby Association and will continue his work to develop domestic rugby for generations to come"
Fawzi Khawaja Country: Pakistan Profile: President of Pakistan Union and former National player "Pakistan's rugby community has grown steadily in recent years, and few know the sport better than Fawzi. He is a passionate and entertaining individual with a sharp sense of humour, charged with leading a project to deliver rugby to schools in a country of 170million. The country's rugby projects have been met with great success but he admits that match days are still fraught with difficulty, explaining that half the team work to "3pm Pakistan Central Time" and the other half "3pm actual time".
Khuram Haroon Country: Pakistan Profile: General Manager of PRU and Former player "Khuram, known only as "K" in the rugby world is indesputably Pakistan's most loyal rugby servant. He lives, breathes and sleeps rugby, and having propped for the national team for many years, now voluntarily contributes to rugby development in every feasible way. When not coordinating Pakistani rugby tournaments, tours and playing for Lahore Rugby Club, he will be keeping the Asian rugby communities informed by maintaining the official ARFU website. We would describe K as "larger than life", but by his own admission, he's much, much bigger than that"
Ismail Kadir Country: Singapore Profile: Asian IRB Development Officer and former national player "As a player, Izzy was a nippy and creative full back, turning into a centre midway through his national years. He is Singapore's most capped national player and in 2008, took his side into the elite Asian 5 Nations with a last minute touchline conversion. Since retiring from international rugby, Izzy has worked as an IRB development officer in Asia. He is a hugely popular character, integrating himself into the rugby communities by delivering coaching courses on the field, and with his enthusiasm for celebrating with graduates late, late into the night."
Mr Mu Country: China Profile: Coach and former national player "Meeting Mr Mu after 3 months of desolate cycling was a huge privilege, not to mention a relief. His English was marginally better than our Chinese, but we had huge admiration for a man who has been an ever present feature in Chinese rugby activity since playing prop in the first test match in 1991. The children of the Quindao Sharks Rugby Club are lucky to have his huge experience in the game, which is certainly required in pulling together sessions of over 100 children"
Jaesub Choi Country: Korea Profile: Communications role in KRU and former national player "Although young, Jaesub, a former Korean national player has a promising future in the progression of the game in his country. He continues to play socially, but more crucially acts as a Korean Rugby Union external contact maintaining relationships with non-Korean players and coaches in the country. In 2011 Korea were promoted back into the A5N and will have one eye on qualification for RWC2019"
John Kirwan Country: New Zealand/Japan Profile: International coach, former national player, World Cup winner and RWC Ambassador "Known to most as JK, the man who broke countless records playing for the All Blacks, since 2002 he has achieved comparible success with his coaching roles. With 63 test caps for the All Blacks, 35 test tries and a World Cup winners medal he's a man who knows his way to the winners line. After achieving some historic victories with Italy, in 2007 he accepted the role of Head Coach of the Japanese national team. He has guided the 'Brave Blossoms' to 4 successive A5N titles and into the top 13 ranked sides in the world"
Eddie Jones Country: Australia Profile: Former International coach and World Cup winner. "Coaching any side in today's professional environment is a competitive and tough business and few know it better than Eddie. He coached the Brumbies to 2 Super 12 titles, before guiding Australia to the Rugby World Cup final in 2003. In 2007, he was this time appointed as technical advisor to the South African side, who progressed through to become champions. Most recently, he coached the Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath to the 2010/2011 Top League title"
G eorge Gregan Country: Australia Profile: Former national player, captain and World Cup winner. "George's mantelpiece is a rather cluttered area of his house so how can we do justice to a man who has succeeded at every club or side he has ever played in? He has a World Cup winners medal for starters, reached a further final along the way, won 2 Super 12 titles and won the French title in a single season. As if this wasn't enough, he holds the world record for most international caps, and in his final ever professional rugby match he led his final side Suntory Sungoliaths to the Top League title in 2011"
Simon Litster Country: Hong Kong Profile: Former National Player, and current world record holder. "Having already stayed in Simon's house for the best part of a week, it came as a very pleasant surprise to hear of Simon's rugby achievements from his friend, a local sports journalist in Japan. Although typically modest, the current President of the Yokohama Country and Athletics Club still trains and plays for the rugby section, rolling back the years to Edinburgh 1993, when playing for Hong Kong he set the World Record for 'Oldest player to have competed at the 7s Rugby World Cup'. Great record Simon, the young man Serevi sends his regards"
Rambo Leung Country: Hong Kong Profile: Former national player, now IRB coach "Until 1993, the Hong Kong national team was made up of expatriots from the traditionaly rugby playing nations. Rambo broke the mould by becoming the first ever Hong Kong national player of Chinese origin. He has already clocked up over 20 years of service to the sport, playing, coaching and developing rugby in regions all over Asia. Through his current role in the IRB Asia office he coordinates rugby projects in rural China, continuing to search for the next generation of Rambos, or as he describes it, players with 'broad shoulders and little legs'"
"Noui" Country: Lao PDR Profile: National captain and community coach "In our view Noui stands for not just Lao PDR rugby, but every single female involved in the sport worldwide. There is nobody more integral and representitive of the Lao PDR rugby spirit than our young legend Noui, who when not playing and captaining her country, is involved in every angle of the union development projects for both male and female rugby. We are truely proud to present Noui on our scroll"
Rattana Pich Country: Cambodia Profile: National captain, rugby development offier at PSE "There can be few stories more inspirational than the boy who climbed from a life on the Phnom Penh rubbish dumps, to become the most capped international Cambodian player, captaining the side for many of years along the journey. From a teenager with virtually no education, he learned rugby from "Pour un Sourir d'Enfant (PSE)" whilst studying business and 2 languages. He has now returned full time to PSE to coordinate the fantastic rugby schedules at the centre."
Eddie Evans Country: Canada Profile: National player "Following an extraordinary international career, playing at Rugby World Cups in 1987, 1991 and 1995, the colourful and exubberant Eddie Evans has been involved in many rugby charity events. Since starting his own sportswear business, his latest interest has been in initiating and supporting the Nak Suu Tigers, a rugby project helping children from the poverty stricken slum areas of Bangkok"
Norm Hadley Country: Canada Profile: National captain "Norm Hadley played and captained Quarter Finalists Canada during the 1991 Rugby World Cup. It is widely argued that he would have been an automatic selection for side at that time and hence he was selected 5 times to play for the Barbarians.When not terrorising opposition packs, he was famously remembered for dealing with hooligans on the London Underground"
Khun Adisak Country: Thailand Profile: Former National player "Khun Adisak is now commonly known as the Chairman of ARFU (Asian Rugby Football Union), but word on the streets of South East Asia revealed he was a lightning fast full back who terrorised oppositions at both national level and against many touring sides to the area in the 80s and 90s"
Boon Hoon Chee Country: Malaysia Profile: Former national player "Boon came from a small fishing village in South Malaysia, first watching rugby through the fence of a Fijian military base. He must have watched carefully, soon developing a far reaching reputation at both 7s and 15s, gracing the Hong Kong 7s on many occasions. After retirement, Boon took on the role of National 7s coach, before sitting as President of the COBRA Rugby Club in 2010, the birthplace of Rugby 10s"
Steve Barber Country: Indonesia Profile: Former national player, founder and chairman of modern day Indonesian Rugby. "For a tough Kiwi-born Australian, Steve's softly spoken, no-nonsense approach to developing rugby typifies the grassroots era of that we all know and love. Despite joking about his feats as top Indonesian national try scorer, Steve is a team player both on and off the pitch, continually contributing, without limits, to the success of our rugby project.The honour was ours."
John Eales Country: Australia Profile: Two time World Cup winning player (1991 & 1999), once as captain (1999) and now ambassador for the RWC. "John Eales is the most successful of all Australian rugby captains and is still the highest scoring forward in test history with 173 points. With an amateur Rugby World Cup winners medal (1991) on the shelf, he then led the country to a professional Rugby World Cup victory (1999) and to the first ever victory over the British & Irish Lions (2001)."
Nick Farr-Jones Country: Australia Profile: World Cup winning captain (1991) "Now listed in both the IRB and ARU hall of fame, Nick is widely praised as one of the most dedicated and professional of the 'rugby amateurs'. At school he failed to break into Newington 1st XV, but didn't take long to make an impact in the game at Sydney University. His performances saw him selected for the Wallabies age 23, and after playing in the inaugral RWC of 1987, was handed the role of captaincy. He subsequently led the Wallabies to their first successful Rugby World Cup in 1991"
Martin Johnson Country: England Profile: Current England coach and World Cup winning captain (2003) "Martin Johnson is better than Chuck Norris, and Chuck knows it."
Richie McCaw Country: New Zealand Profile: All Blacks captain, and record All Blacks test cap holder. "There is only one thing missing from Richie's CV, and we're here in NZ to see if he gets it"

If you are inspired by our world rugby stories, please donate to our International charity, the TAG Rugby Development Trust that facilitate social development across the world, using our fantastic game.