June 8, 2005
Successful rugby teams are regularly ‘on top of the World’, but the team of 22 involved in a tag match on Everest this week has added a new dimension to that cliché.

And to prove the point, they will be hoping to go into the Guinness Book of Records as having played the highest game of rugby ever – at 17,575 feet up on the slopes of Mount Everest.

The game at the Everest Base Camp used by Sir Edmond Hillary and Tenzing Norge on the first successful climb of the 29,002 ft peak on May 29, 1953,  was the pinnacle of a mighty effort by a group of volunteers from across the rugby community who decided that to put down a marker on the world’s highest peak would be a great way to raise money for and promote the two charities they have been supporting in their efforts – SPIRE (the Rugby Football Union charity which helps players with serious spinal injuries) and Show Racism the Red Card.

With £35,000 already raised before the party set off for Nepal and their six-day trek to the venue of their record-breaking match, the trip was guaranteed to be successful before they left home. But in adding a massive personal physical effort to their fund-raising activities, the group – aged from 20 to 65 – have demonstrated huge commitment to two worthy causes.e

“I can almost hear the late Roy Castle congratulating us on our magnificent feat!” said Gareth Lewis from the RFU Community Rugby Department. “We were up early for the record attempt. The pitch was cleared and marked and the tops and tag belts handed out.

“John Steele from Northampton Saints and Raj Joshi, our expedition leader, were the captains for the day and any thoughts of walking pace went straight out the window as the competitive nature of the participants came out. But we quickly realised just how little air there was up there and we were gasping after running a few metres.
”After 15 minutes of rugby the final score was 4-2 to John Steele's team.”
While the teams may have written their own new chapter in the record books, their title of World Altitude Rugby Champions did not last long.

“We decided to take on Nepal in an international tag rugby match after Allan Moses and Clive Cashell, Rugby Development Officers for Northumberland and Hampshire respectively, had taken the porters and guides through the basics of tag rugby.” said Lewis. “Expert tuition, mastery of the testing conditions and some generous refereeing decisions brought a 3-2 win for Nepal, who were rewarded with the tag belts, ball and England tops. It was a great day all round.”
Jo Young from Chipping Norton RFC, one of six women on the trip, said: “What a week of highs and lows, but what an experience. Unfortunately it was really cloudy on the day we got to Base Camp, so we haven’t many close-ups of Everest, BUT WE GOT THERE!”

*Support Paraplegics In Rugby Enterprise (SPIRE) is the official RFU charity that assists players who have suffered permanent total disability through rugby and is currently supporting the needs of around 115 disabled ex-players.

Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) is a charity which aims to combat racism through education and the use of professional sportsmen as role models.

Footballers have shown the way by making a stand against racism and now the RFU and players at all levels within the game are actively involved in the campaign – vigorously supporting the aims of SRTRC.

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/rfu_charitychallenge

Everest team