A year and a half after the Everest Rugby Challenge, we finally have confirmation that the two Guinness World Records attempted in Tibet in April 2019 have been approved. We knew that the highest altitude game of touch was already in the bag (played at 5119m at Everest Base Camp, Tibet on 25th April) as Guinness World Records (GWR) quickly confirmed they had accepted the evidence. However, the second record, for the highest altitude game of rugby, unfortunately proved more problematic. I’m not sure why it was stymied for so long, given we had told them what we planned to do, did what we planned to do, videoed the whole damn thing and then invited them over to watch the video. On 22nd October this year we received notification that after much, much, much deliberation GWR had ratified the attempt and the record for the highest ever game of rugby was ours. Time for, ahem, a Guinness or two.
5119m
My biggest regret with the game of touch at Base Camp is that Graham Allen and Paul Watkins were not there to take part. Both fell victim of accident and injury just weeks before departure after playing key roles in the preparation for the trip. Both were instrumental in convincing me I could get there and for that I will be eternally grateful. It was also to be the last involvement for several of the tour party as altitude and illnesses took their toll. Despite this, for 14 minutes on an ice pitch plus a much needed half time break, everyone who made it to Tibet and who had raised much needed funds for Wooden Spoon got to play touch rugby on the tallest mountain on Earth.
To view the official record for the highest ever game of touch rugby please click here
6322m
The first pint of Guinness always sails down so sweetly but I hate it when the second takes an age to appear from the bar. Hats off to Sarah Webb and the rest of the Wooden Spoon team who have fought to have the second record ratified over the last eighteen months. It must have been incredibly frustrating trying to get GWR to agree to the record when, to everyone involved, it seemed so obvious that it had been achieved. It would have been a real shame if it hadn’t been approved given the personal sacrifices so many people made to get there, and, in some cases, return seriously ill from the attempt.
Better late than never… so to see the official record for the highest game of rugby ever played please click here
94.77m
So that’s it, we’re done, I have no more stories to tell about this particular journey. The record being confirmed brings an end of to one of the most exciting chapters of my life, and for me it is very much a fitting end, worthy of the efforts of all involved. One question I get asked is: would I go back to Everest? The honest answer is yes, but only for the right challenge. I don’t see me queueing to get to the summit just to tick a box but, you never know what the future holds. I certainly intend to go back to the Himalayas. For the people, for the peace & quiet, for the sheer awe-inspiring raw beauty and for the soothing of my soul. That being said, garlic pak choi, bounty bars and chest infections can fuck right off.
I look forward to catching up with all those who shared in this epic adventure, to reminisce and tell tall tales, tales that will undoubtedly get taller in the telling as all good stories inevitably do. Part of me is sad that our paths will now diverge as we all get on with writing the next chapters of our own lives. I guess we all now have a choice of where these chapters take us, to decide where each of our stories will go. I often wonder if this was just a one off for me or the start of something greater? I cannot speak for my companions, but I am keen to keep on pushing myself to take on new challenges. It turns out I quite like the outside of my comfort zone.
Thanks to all those who have followed my ramblings on here, I genuinely hope you have enjoyed my telling of the story. So, for one last time, on behalf of everyone who went to Everest to play rugby and for all the disadvantaged and disabled children for which our charity makes a real difference: please, if you can, make a donation to support the incredible work that Wooden Spoon do by clicking here and change a child’s life for the better.
Yours aye,
Deano
Deano's World 