Former rugby internationals swap boots for bikes

A quartet of former Scotland international rugby players will be descending on Oban next week during an epic charity bike run.

Ruaridh Jackson, who earned 33 caps between 2010 and 2018, will join Richie Vernon, the first man to go to World Cups for Scotland as a forward then a back, Ryan Grant, the former Scotland prop and 2009 Lions tourist and Andrew Easson, the former Edinburgh and Scotland Sevens player, in cycling the Caledonia Way in aid of Doddie Weir’s My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and Unite Against Cancer.

With no cycling experience between them apart from the occasional spin on an indoor training cycle, the foursome aim to ride the 234 miles from Campbeltown to Inverness in 36 hours.

Speaking to the Oban Times last week Jackson said: ‘Training has been going well but it is not without its challenges fitting it in and around work. We are all excited about the route but nervous about some of the climbs that will have to be taken on, especially day one up to Oban.’

The quartet are raising money for two charities close to their hearts – the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and Unite Against Cancer.

At the time of writing they had already reached £4,940 of their original £5,000 target.

The team roll out of Campbeltown tomorrow and will stay overnight in Oban before taking off for Fort William on Saturday morning.

You can track their journey and donate to Ruaridh, Ryan, Richie and Andrew’s cycling challenge at their Cycling the Caledonia Way gofundme page.