I spent two years cycling 27,000 miles ... to see my team humiliated
INTREPID Springbok fan Ron Rutland thought he had seen just about everything in his epic, two-year, near27,000-mile bike ride from South Africa to England to see the Rugby Union World Cup.
But then the former banker watched his nation’s team – one of the most feared and respected in the game – lose to rugby minnows Japan in one of the greatest shocks in sporting history.
Mr Rutland, 41, was at the match in Brighton on Saturday, having left home in Cape Town in April 2013 and cycled through almost every country in Africa. Yesterday, he was still coming to terms with the result.
“I was absolutely gobsmacked. To be such a big fan and come all this way to see that was just surreal,” he said. “It was the biggest upset in rugby history and it felt like I was watching a movie. I just could not believe what I had just witnessed.”
Mr Rutland, who organises rugby tournaments, embarked on his mammoth cycle ride after years of promising himself he would do something adventurous. It initially began as a plan to cycle around Africa but when he worked out how long it would take, he realised he could also cycle across Europe in time for the World Cup.
The journey took in all but four countries in mainland Africa and several across Europe. He has been raising money for the Laureus Foundation, which uses sport to help the needy. It became a particularly poignant adventure, as his friend Nix “Lettie” Haynes was diagnosed with cancer before he left and died halfway through his journey. He has had support from a host of sporting greats, including Francois Pienaar, the former South African rugby captain.
Mr Rutland said a lifetime of reading books about adventurers and explorers had inspired the bike ride. “I always wanted to realise a dream like this but you finish a book, put it down and then go back to work,” he said. “I realised you just had to get on with it and do it and being such a massive Springboks fan, then to be able to take the World Cup in as well was amazing,” he added.
Yesterday Mr Rutland was philosophical about the shock defeat and believes the Springboks can still win the tournament. “I realised that I had witnessed a bit of sporting history so it was a privilege to have been there. And when I saw the Japanese fans in tears, I realised how much it meant for them.” He added: “Despite the defeat it was incredible to watch the reaction. South African fans can, if I’m honest, be a little bit arrogant but they were applauding Japanese supporters in restaurants and in the street after the game.” And if the ride across two continents was not enough, Mr Rutland plans to cycle to each of the remaining South African matches. At a minimum, this will see him pedalling to Birmingham and Newcastle before turning around and cycling south to the Olympic Stadium in London, for their final group game.
With a grin, he added: “I think I will fly home, though.”
‘It was just surreal ... I was absolutely gobsmacked ... I just could not believe what I had just witnessed’