Dallaglio cycle marathon arrives in England

Rugby legend Lawrence Dallaglio is back on English soil as his fund-raising cycle ride heads for Twickenham.

Accompanied by 68 fellow cyclists, he swept into the car park of Folkestone Rugby Club yesterday after crossing from France on Eurotunnel.

The former England and Wasps captain, who was in the World Cup-winning squad, is cycling to all of the Six Nations stadiums to coincide with the tournament.

His challenge is in aid of Sport Relief and the Lawrence Dallaglio Foundation with the aim of raising £1m.

Dallaglio knocked back a pint of Guinness in the Folkestone clubhouse and told the Kent Messenger: "It has been amazing.

"We have been through all the emotions and all different weather including the first snow in Rome for 28 years.

"We are half way through now and it is great to be back in England."

Eight people including Lawrence are completing the whole route from Rome to Edinburgh with around 250 others joining in for various stages, including former England player Les Ferdinand and ex-Arsenal player Lee Dixon.

Lawrence received a donation from the Folkestone club before setting off for an overnight stop in Maidstone.

Today they will continue on to Twickenham for the England v Ireland match on Saturday.

The whole route is 2,800 miles and visits an international stadium in each of the six nations