Seven of the “Try to the Final" team who swam, ran, rowed, and cycled their way from London to Paris in October 2023 are coming together again in May 2024 to run from Gloucester RFC to Northampton RFC in time for the Gallagher Premiership match at the Cinch Franklin's Gardens on the evening of Friday 10th May.

The team will be running 3 marathons back-to-back (one each per charity), or 78.6 miles. 

This event will support the charities that were close to the hearts of Sottish rugby legends Doddie Weir OBE and Tom Smith, as well as Gloucester legend Ed Slater who retired from rugby when he was diagnosed with MND in July 2022 and subsequently set up the 4Ed foundation. 

The team will be leaving from the Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester early afternoon on Thursday 9th May, taking in the sights and hills of the Midlands countryside. They will be running non-stop through various villages and towns until they reach Franklin's Gardens in time for kick-off when Northampton host Gloucester on the evening of Friday 10th May in one of the penultimate games of the Gallagher Premiership.

Their destination has special resonance for 40tude as our former ambassador Tom played 174 matches for Northampton Saints, making his debut on 1st September 2001. Over the subsequent eight seasons his appetite for the action never diminished and neither did his popularity with the Saints' fans. His time at Franklin's Gardens included two Powergen Cup finals, a Heineken Cup semi-final and three Heineken Cup quarter finals. He remained at Northampton until his retirement from playing in 2009.

Tom was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 2019 and sadly passed away in April 2022 aged 50.

The team will be carrying the match ball and will be joined along the way by other sporting legends. Anyone wishing to join for a few miles or the whole distance are welcome to do so - please let us know and we will put you in touch with team leader Stuart Thom.