RUGBY clubs making a visit to the Emerald Isle is nothing new, but a rugby club using this traditional drinking route as a template for a charity rowing marathon is certainly something new.

Last Friday morning four teams of Harlow Rugby Club players mounted four rowing machines in an effort to make the virtual journey from Harlow to Belfast via Rosslare and then back to Harlow via Dublin and Liverpool a total distance of 1380.9km in 24 hours.

Members from across the club took part, from the first team to the under-10s, and their target was reached with just 15 minutes to spare.

The club are unsure how much money was raised for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, but expect to beat the £2,000 raised by last year's charity touch rugby tournament.