Cyclists ride 20,000 km to deliver Rugby World Cup whistle to Japan

W/S Cyclists on road, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture *DRONE FOOTAGE*
M/S Cyclist James Owens and cyclist Ron Rutland cycling on road
W/S Cars driving over bridge *DRONE FOOTAGE*
M/S Rutland cycling up hill
W/S Cyclists and cars on road *DRONE FOOTAGE*
M/S Rutland and Owens arriving into Shizuoka
SOT, James Owens, Cyclist: "So we started in London on February the second, so two hundred and twenty nine days ago and tomorrow is our final day when we reach Tokyo stadium. So we've been twenty thousand kilometers in twenty seven countries, we've been on a big adventure and [I'm] loving being in Japan to finish all off."
M/S Bicycle *CUTAWAY*
SOT, James Owens, Cyclist: "We are bring the whistle, the match whistle for the opening game between Japan and Russia. It's travelled all the way from London and we'll be reaching Tokyo stadium tomorrow to hand over to Nigel Owens, who will be the referee for the opening game."
C/U Bicycle wheel *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Ron Rutland Cyclist: "So, we've been in Japan now for about four or five days, cycling from Osaka and we dream about this time, this stretch of the trip for two hundred and something days. Arriving in Japan is so important. We were expecting good things but it's been amazing, I was so tired of the bicycle, before I came to Japan. Bought myself a Japan rail pass to go and see the country by train after we finish, but all I want to do now is carry on cycling."
C/U Bicycle with detail reading: "Japan 2019" *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Ron Rutland Cyclist: "For me this trip has just proven that absolutely anything is possible. Like James and I are not real cyclists, we just dreamt up this plan of cycling across the world and the bicycle just for us has just been the tool. You know I'm a big fat guy, James broke his leg last year, so we are not great cyclists or great athletes or anything like that but we had this big dream."
M/S Owens eating
C/U Owens
M/S Rutland on bicycle
W/S Cyclists waiting
M/S Rutland and other cyclists setting off
W/S Rutland and other cyclists waiting at crossing
M/S Rutland and other cyclists waiting at crossing
W/S Owens and other cyclists going past
M/S Cyclists on road
M/S Cyclists on road
W/S Cyclists and cars on road
SCRIPT
Two cyclists, James Owens from Hong Kong and Ron Rutland from South Africa have cycled more than 20,000 km (12,427 miles) across 27 countries to deliver a match whistle from Twickenham in London to Tokyo Stadium for the kick-off match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Footage filmed on Wednesday in Shizuoka shows the two intrepid cyclists riding through the Japanese countryside and stopping for a much needed lunch break.
The pair embarked on their journey on February 2, with the opening match whistle. Both riders hope to raise money for the charity ChildFund Pass It Back from their epic journey.
"For me this trip has just proven that absolutely anything is possible, like James and I are not real cyclists, we just dreamt up this plan of cycling across the world and the bicycle just for us has just been the tool. You know I'm a big fat guy, James broke his leg last year so we are not great cyclists or great athletes or anything like that but we had this big dream," cyclists Ron Rutland said.
The opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup will kick-off on September 19, when home team Japan faces off against Russia at the Tokyo stadium.