YOUNG rugby players have tackled the challenge of walking a half marathon and surpassed their fundraising target along the way.

On October 27, team members from the under-13 and under-14 squads at Haddington Rugby Club Academy successfully walked from Dunbar Rugby Club to their home ground on Mill Wynd.

The 36 youngsters were divided into groups to avoid blocking the path along the John Muir Way and were accompanied by coaches and parents.

On average, it took the groups five hours to complete the 13.1 miles, which coach Andrew Forrest described as a "tough challenge".

He said: "It was a really successful day in terms of the walk and the psychological challenge as well as the physical challenge.

"There was definitely some that struggled but, with the coaches helping motivate them along the way, it was great and we had really good feedback from parents after.

"It helped them bond as well because they were having to spend hours and hours in their groups.

"Every group had their challenges on the way.

"It would have been so easy to stop at any given moment, but the sense of achievement afterwards, I think everyone's really happy. That's exactly what we wanted."

Andrew added that the £3,000 they had managed to raise so far "completely exceeded" what they expected.

The money raised will help cover the costs of a trip to the north of England in May, to compete in a rugby tournament. 

Donations to the fundraiser can be made at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Haddington-Rugby-Academy-Tour