Alex gets in the swim to help the hospice kids

FORMER Scotland centre Alex Grove will go to any lengths to raise money for his favourite charity.

- JON NEWCOMBE

The three-times capped international faced down some of the best players in the game during his 91 Premiership appearances for Worcester but is currently preparing to embark on his biggest challenge yet – swimming the Channel – in aid of the Acorns Children’s Hospice.

As the 32-year-old sat down for his Christmas dinner the sight of goose fat was another reminder that, on August 1, he will attempt the ambitious 21-mile challenge from Folkestone to Cap Gris Nez in France.

Grove is well into a serious training programme, completing a number of marathon swims, including the Great North Swim at Lake Windermere, Coniston Water, Dock to Dock at London’s Royal Victoria Docks and the Thames Marathon, as well as repeatedly going up and down an indoor pool over the festive period.

Speaking to The Rugby Paper the day after a gentle 20km swim, Grove is confident he’s putting himself in the best position to be successful when the big day comes.

“Although I only announced it a few weeks ago, I’ve done a lot of training over the last 15 months,” he said.

“I’ve wanted to do this for some time, swimming the English Channel has a mystique to it and holds a special allure for distance swimmers.