Former Bath and England rugby player David Flatman today set off on an epic journey across the UK that will be filmed exclusively by BT Sport for its weekly rugby show, Rugby Tonight.
‘Flats’ has been challenged by England rugby legend and BT Sport expert Lawrence Dallaglio to travel from Twickenham, in his Land Rover, on an epic five day challenge dubbed ‘Tour de Flats’. Along the way Flatman will carry out a series of challenges with the help of a number of retired and current professional rugby greats, grassroots clubs and organisations.
This year’s challenge follows the success of Flatman’s original Tour last summer when, after losing the Rugby Tonight Land Rover Challenge, he had to drive to Toulon to perform the Pilou Pilou, the French club’s war cry, with Cedric Abellon.
Flatman will travel to Exeter, Cardiff, Newcastle and London, to take part in various challenges before he returns back to Twickenham on Thursday 2nd April. He’ll be helped by a few sporting friends along the way, including current International rugby stars and Land Rover ambassadors James Haskell and Sam Warburton, former England Internationals Ben Kay, Mike Tindall and Lawrence Dallaglio. The former Bath star will compete against children to be a rugby mascot, lend a hand at a grassroots rugby club as part of Land Rovers ‘We Deal In Real’ activity. Following that Flats will undertake an off road driving course to see what the Land Rover can do, sing the Welsh National anthem, show off his football skills and take on the great orbit race at the Orbit in the Olympic Park.
Talking about the challenge, Flatman said: “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel and on the road again. Tour de Flats was an amazing experience last year and once again I’ll be meeting some stars of the rugby world and having a laugh along the way with some light-hearted challenges that should make for great TV.”
Flatman’s journey will be filmed exclusively for Rugby Tonight, BT Sport’s weekly show, with help from Land Rover. Tour De Flats will be shown on air on the 30th March, 13th April and 20th April. To keep up-to-date with the adventure and send in any suggestions or challenges on Twitter by using the hashtag #TourDeFlats
To follow Tour de Flats, tune into Rugby Tonight on Monday’s at 8pm live on BT Sport 1. Land Rovers ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign aims to put grassroots rugby on the global stage.