A TEAM of rugby players will be setting off on a virtual marathon this weekend to pave the way for the tour of a lifetime.

Latchford Giants under 15s, who play at Victoria Park, will each be individually running one mile every 30 minutes on Saturday. They will start at 7am, each completing the 26-mile distance over 12 hours.

The team, who play in the North West Counties Premier League, are hoping that can they raise more funds for a trip to France in 2022.

Coach Dave Manfredi has always had the dream to take the team over the Channel, as he had that experience as a teenager, and wanted them to have that experience too.

The boys will all be running from their homes, keeping in touch over Facetime and monitoring their distance on Strava.

The amateur side aims to build their fitness ahead of a potential return to rugby on March 29, if Covid-19 restrictions are eased.

They are also prioritising mental well-being and teamwork, in addition to funding for their tour.

The trip is provisionally booked for July 2022 when the teenagers - currently Year 10 - have finished their GCSE’s and hope travel restrictions will have eased.

Already the team have cycled from Sheffield to Warrington and have completed a 26-mile walk to every community rugby club in Warrington over one weekend while observing social distancing, which helped the side both mentally and physically.

The young Giants have overtaken their £500 target so far but hope that this virtual marathon can add to their total to send them on their way south.

Donations can be made HERE