A HAMPSHIRE rugby coach is off for the adventure of a lifetime today by attempting to set two Guinness World Records on Mount Everest.

Jon Ingarfield, a local coach for Rugbytots, will take part in the LMAX Exchange Everest Rugby Challenge, which will see one of the highest game of full contact rugby and mixed touch rugby in history being played.

The group, comprised of four former international rugby players, leading business executives and other members of the rugby community, will set off today.

They will battle heights of 6,500 metres over 24 days while attempting to raise £200,000 for the children’s charity Wooden Spoon.

Joining Jon, from Eastleigh, will be Lee Mears and Shane Williams, former English and Welsh rugby union players, who boast almost 140 international caps between them.

Ollie Phillips, a former star of the international Rugby Sevens circuit, and Tamara Taylor, who has represented England more than 100 times, are the other star players.

The money raised from the challenge will help fund life-changing projects supporting children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland.

Jon said: “I have always wanted to do something like this before and one of the best things Wooden Spoon does is they put the money back into the area that it was raised and after this I can see where it has gone.

“I am Welsh and have loved rugby all my life. The game has got so many different types of people and it doesn’t matter who you are, you can bring something different to the game. I play on the wing and this will be my last game.”

The 34-year-old added: “I have worked with children for 10 years and it was too great an opportunity to not get involved with. As Rugbytots has been a big supporter of Wooden Spoon over the years, I have seen the great work they do to help children who need it.”

To help the team reach their fundraising goal, visit Jon’s fund-raising page at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JonathanIngarfield.