 | | Tom & Jodie Arrive in Seoul |
This weekend the Seoul Survivors have been playing host (thanks Nick!) to Tom & Jodie. They are Cycling to the Rugby World Cup and are pretty much half way through their 25,000km journey. They left Twickenham on May 1st 2010 and are aiming to arrive in New Zealand in time to watch the Rugby World Cup.
They arrived in Incheon just a couple of days ago, spent the weekend in Seoul and are aiming to get to Busan around midday on Sunday, before catching a ferry across the East Sea to Japan and continuing on down through Asia. They will be cycling on average 100km a day and having spent more than 3 weeks enduring winter in the Chinese desert are not worried by the cold weather in Korea!
The Survivors have been doing everything they can to help Tom & Jodie out; arranging accomodation in Seoul, an interview with The Korea Times, and a meeting with Jaesub Choi (ex-Korean U19 and international player, as well as a member of the KRU's international relations committee).
Why are Tom & Jodie doing it? They want to show that rugby is a force to unite the world. They are exploring the world through rugby, trying to raise awareness of rugby, and find out more about rugby at a grass roots level. Their journey is taking them through the lower ranked rugby nations, and exposing them to the early stages of rugby development in these countries. They have met some very inspirational figures who are extremely passionate about rugby - it has been a real eye-openening trip! Of course, they are also raising money for charity. They are working with both Rays of Sunshine and the TAG Rugby Trust. Their aim is to raise £28,000, and they're well on their way!
 | | Jaesub Choi signing the World in Union Scroll |
When Tom & Jodie finally arrive in New Zealand, they will be making a presentation to the national rugby museum. They are collecting signatures (for their World in Union Scroll), signed national jerseys (which they will link arm-in-arm to show their journey across the globe), and other rugby memorabilia. All of these will be displayed in New Zealand at the World Cup. The Survivors introduced Jaesub Choi to Tom & Jodie. Having represented Korea at both U19 and international level, as well as being a member of the KRU's international relations committee, Jaesub was able to give them a good insight into the development of rugby in Korea. He was also delighted to sign their World in Union Scroll and will be collecting national players' signatures on a Korean rugby jersey to send to Tom & Jodie. |
