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Auckland, New Zealand – South African adventurers Ron Rutland and Adam Nunn pedalled their last kilometre through the tunnel leading to Eden Park Stadium, as they made the last stop of their epic cycling expedition which started in Tokyo, Japan – the site of the Rugby World Cup 2019 final. The duo arrived just in time to deliver the opening game’s whistle to referee Maggie Cogger-Orr to officially kick-off Rugby World Cup 2021 last month.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – OCTOBER 08: (L-R) Adam Nunn and Ron Rutland enter Eden Park as they deliver the official whistle for the first match ahead of the Pool C Rugby World Cup 2021 New Zealand match between South Africa and France at Eden Park on October 08, 2022, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Spanning 209 days, 11 nations, and over 16,500km, the Race to Rugby World Cup 2021 successfully raised more than 15,000 USD for ChildFund Rugby, the tournament’s Principal Charity. The journey was supported by World Rugby, DHL, and the global rugby family who cheered for them all the way to the finish line.

This is not the first time for a quest this impressive! Three years ago, Ron Rutland and his then fellow cyclist James Owens cycled from London to Tokyo over eight months to raise funds and awareness for ChildFund Rugby, the then Principal Charity for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.

After departing from Tokyo in March 2022, the cyclists criss-crossed through 11 countries, spreading their passion for rugby and their belief in how it can be used to drive positive social impact. Both rugby and non-rugby communities welcomed the two with open arms. In the South East Asia leg of the tour, Ron and Adam caught up with Coaches and players from ChildFund Rugby’s partnerships in Vietnam and Cambodia. This leg of the trip gave them the chance to witness the impact of the work Partners do, and it was one of the highlights of their trip.

“It’s been the most incredible and also the most challenging expedition imaginable! Just getting to the starting line in Tokyo with all the ever-changing COVID restrictions in the region, was a feat in itself. The restrictions were a constant concern during the first few months of the journey,” Ron recalled how they managed to overcome one of the toughest periods of the trip. “But as the journey progressed, we were able to focus more on our pedalling, the more ‘ordinary’ ups and downs of spending 40 to 50 hours a week in the saddle, and most importantly our fundraising efforts for ChildFund Rugby.”

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – OCTOBER 08: Adam Nunn and Ron Rutland pose with match referee Maggie Cogger-Orr who is holding the official whistle for the first match ahead of the Pool C Rugby World Cup 2021 New Zealand match between South Africa and France at Eden Park on October 08, 2022, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

When Ron and Adam finally arrived at Eden Park, a throng greeted them with waves of applause. Also looking forward to their arrival were representatives from World Rugby, DHL, ChildFund Rugby, and, of course, referee Maggie Cogger-Orr who was excited to start the first game with the safe delivery of the whistle.

“It’s been inspiring seeing Ron and Adam travelling towards Auckland, and visiting the rugby community along the way, including many of our partners. We are thrilled that Ron has once again chosen to support ChildFund Rugby in his latest adventure. Their support means that more girls and women will have the opportunity to learn leadership and life skills through rugby, supporting a more impactful tournament legacy,” said Margaret Sheehan, ChildFund Australia CEO, who greeted the duo at the stadium.

After the fantastic wrap-up of this year’s RWC, the Race to Rugby World Cup adventure continues. Not letting himself (and his bicycle) rest for too long, Ron is already back on the road after being assigned to deliver the opening game’s whistle for the Rugby World Cup France 2023 on September 8th 2023 in Paris. Ron is gearing up for another epic ride, and this time it will be a 22,000km-cycling journey to Stade de France, while continuing his support for ChildFund Rugby.

A big thanks to Ron and we wish him all the best over the next ten months!

“I like reading the funny stories because it helps me to develop my imagination and bring some relief. By reading stories at the library, I’ve learned a lot about Lao Language and improved my reading proficiency,” said Jack, a grade nine student in the Houaphanh Province.

Jack’s school is taking part in ChildFund in Laos’ Gender and Language Education for Ethnic Students’ Empowerment (GLEESE) project.

Jack reading a book in the reading room.

Literacy levels among children and young people from ethnic minority groups in Laos remains relatively low. The GLEESE project is designed to make sure that every child has the opportunity to go to school.

This project specifically focusses on supporting children in the Sopbao and Xamneua Districts in the Houaphanh Province to boost school attendance, leading to more young people completing a secondary education. One way that ChildFund is doing this is by building new and renovating existing school facilities and libraries.

The project built a new library at Jack’s school. The library is equipped with enough books for ten schools – five in Sopbao and another five schools in Xamneua. These libraries have encouraged the students to read more and learn to enjoy reading. The project supports teachers and students to work together to make sure the library is stocked with books and that it is kept tidy. A long-term management plan will make sure that the project is sustainable.

One grade eight student, Minta said: “I enjoy reading stories about peace, harmony and the environment. I go the reading room about twice a week. I like reading books with a large group of friends because it is enjoyable to read together, and we take turns telling each other funny stories.”

The school library helps children and young people from ethnic minority groups to learn to speak and read in Laos. By learning both their own and the national language, they are better equipped to fully participate in and contribute to their community.

“The reading room really improved my ability to read Lao. I’d want to see a reading room like this in other schools so that friends may read fun books together and enhance everyone’s reading skills,” said Minta.

The GLEESE project is providing quality education for all levels of learning and connecting children from the community with teachers that can help them learn and access books, school supplies, classrooms, and boarding arrangements for those that need them. With this support, more children can go to school.

Learn more about how ChildFund in Laos is supporting children and young people to access an education.

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