​LEGENDARY rugby star JPR Williams has given his backing to a pioneering project to develop rugby in Africa.

The former Welsh international and British Lions player is supporting a five-month mission, Bhubesi Pride, from Cheltenham to Cape Town, covering 15,000 miles.

The mission will teach rugby and deliver health and social skills to deprived children along the way and encourage youngsters to take up the sport.

Williams said: “I fully endorse Bhubesi Pride’s TransAfrique 2011 and would relish the chance to visit other African countries.

“The Welsh Rugby Former International Players Association, of which I am a trustee and committee member, fully supports the project.”

Richard Bennett, Bhubesi Pride project coordinator and a teacher at Dean Close School in Cheltenham, said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to have JPR involved.

“With his support and that of the WRFIPA, we aim to make the project a massive success.”

Next year, Bhubesi Pride will be running week-long coaching, supplementary educational sessions and rugby tournaments at 15 schools in 10 African countries – aiming to unite youngsters through the sport.

Bhubesi Pride will be linking a British school with each African school, and British pupils will be able to interactively engage in the project, both this year and next.

The planned trip will enter Africa at Tunisia after travelling through France and Italy and will pass through Libya, Egypt and Sudan before embarking on their rugby coaching programme.

Beginning in Ethiopia, they will continue through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia before finally rolling into South Africa.

The original route through Northern Uganda has already been changed due to safety fears.

The route is a well-trodden one and the same used by Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor on their Long Way Down motorbike trip for the BBC.

Candidates will be asked to appear at a formal assessment day at Gloucester Rugby Club on June 4 and must be over 21.

The trip will present some difficult challenges to those lucky enough to nail down a place.

In-demand skills for the team include vehicle mechanics, medicine, first-aid, filming and editing.

The adventure will be fully funded through corporate sponsorship and charitable donations, allowing the successful applicants who join the Bhubesi Pride team to focus on the project’s charitable objectives.

If you would like to get involved with the project – and be a part of the ‘pride’ – please contact Richard by sending an email to richard@rugbyinafrica.org