Albury-Wodonga Steamers' womens team are in the midst of a fitness challenge set to take them to Spain, but the side has no intention of leaving the Border.
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The players are adding their kilometres together to see if they can accumulate over 17,000 to reach the European country, with a combined total of 775km already traveled by foot.
Steamers' team manager Elyse Burns was one of the brains behind the concept, which was thought up after she and former Steamers teammate Jocelyn Wilson were unable to travel to Spain to play beach rugby due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Burns had planned to meet Wilson in England this year, with Wilson now playing for Fullerians Rugby Football Club.
The English club is also on board with the challenge and has so far reached 1895km after havinng a head start on the Border side.
The race is now on to see which team can reach the destination first.
"Their team started to do a bit of tracking to see if they could visit the other clubs they were supposed to be playing, and I said why don't we see if we can meet up," Burns said.
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"It's a way for us to touch base and still be competitive about something.
"It keeps up our competitive spirit."
The Steamers started the challenge with 15 players from the women's side, however, it has since grown to see the wider club also jump on board.
With the Southern Inland Rugby Union season still currently in limbo due to the coronavirus, self-proclaimed rugby tragic Burns said the side is itching to get back out on the field when they can.
"There's a lot of cabin fever," she said.
"We're so used to training and playing together and going to the pub on a Friday night together.
"The girls on the team are more than teammates, they're friends and family.
"I think we just miss each others company."
Community rugby is at this stage able to resume June 1 after the date was set by Rugby Australia.
Wangaratta Rovers female football club have also implemented a similar fitness challenge in an effort to keep players active and connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rovers recently ticked over the 10,000km mark on day 38 of their journey around Australia.
The feat saw them reach Perth.
