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WORDS: ANISHA PATEL, PHOTO © GETTY, SOURCES FOR TOUR DE FRANCE NUMBERS: ESPN, CYCLING WEEKLY, VELOFACTS.COM Scrum, sea & sand London Wasps’ star Tom Varndell gets ready to compete in the first-ever Rugby Tens tournament, set to thrill Ibiza on 8 June Q What’s Rugby Tens all about? Tens is much faster and is a great introduction to the sport for those who haven’t seen the game before. It will take place at Ibiza’s Estadio Municipal Can Misses [stadium], where eight teams of 10 – one made up of former Premiership and International players – will play a minimum of three games each to get through to the final. It makes rugby accessible for everyone. I know that RugbySpy [the organiser] has a few surprises up its sleeve, so there’s going to be a real festival and party atmosphere. Q What makes the event unique? Well, the weather should be dependably sunny! While it’s only a one-day event, there’ll be great food, music and entertainment, and the playing standard will be high. Q Is rugby a growing sport in Spain? Spain has always had a strong rugby culture. Over the last few seasons, the smaller rugby nations have been getting better and better. Tournaments like this are only going to help Save now, go later Holiday maths that makes sense INTRODUCING Jonny Chillkinson -SAVE- £2 ON YOUR DAILY CAPPUCCINO increase the interest in the game in smaller rugby-playing nations. We’re lucky to have Oriol Ripol, one of Spain’s most prolific rugby players, join us for this weekend. Q What makes Ibiza an ideal location? Ibiza is a beautiful island, and while everyone thinks about it as pubs, clubs and bars, there are also fantastic opportunities for sport here, and there’s absolutely no reason why rugby shouldn’t be one of those. Q If we miss out on our chance to go in 2013, will there be another one next year? Well you’ll have to speak to the RugbySpy team about that. They’re a company with a huge passion for sport – particularly rugby. It’s really going to depend upon demand and actually the “buy-in” of the local community and businesses. So far, it’s been great, with the likes of Sands, Space, the Mambo group and Ibiza Rocks getting involved, so it’s onwards and upwards! Be there… Travel to Ibiza with th thomascook.com. For more information rmation on the event, visit rugbyspy.com -FOR- 202 DAYS £404 ACTION ACT I ON in i numbers The T Tour de France celebrates its 100th race this summer and will be the first in 10 years to take place entirely within French borders. We crunch the numbers behind the world’s most famous cycling event. 28 The number of mountain passes in this year’s race, making it the most mountainous for more than 10 years. 123,900 Calories burned by a rider in the course of the Tour. That’s the equivalent of eating four whole 12” pepperoni pizzas – a day. 3The number of bicycle chains that an average rider will wear over the event. In his prime, Lance Armstrong wore out one chain per week. 1903 Maurice Garin wins the inaugural race, but is disqualified a year later after he was found to have taken the train part of the way. 3,412,546 The total prize money paid out in euros, with €450,000 going to the winner. Be there… Travel to Corsica with crestaholidays.co.uk to see the start of the Tour de France (letour.com) on 29 June ENOUGH MONEY FOR A SEVEN-NIGHT SKI HOLIDAY WITH NEILSON IN AUSTRIA AT A FOUR- STAR RESORT, HALF-BOARD. (NEILSON.CO.UK) departures MAY.JUN.JUL 27