Former Wales and British Lions Rugby Union star Shane Williams is relishing the challenge of taking on one of the toughest triathlons in the UK this summer, in support of blood cancer charity Bloodwise.

Shane, from Glanaman, will join fellow retired Welsh International Ian Gough at the Caderman Triathlon on Saturday, August 5, as they take on the epic 70.3mile course with a final run up to the summit of Cader Idris.

Ahead of his punditry for S4C’s forthcoming Six Nations coverage, Shane says: “As a keen triathlete, Caderman sounds like a fantastic event and I’m really looking forward to taking it on and raising vital funds for Bloodwise, the UK’s largest blood cancer research charity.

"I’ve done many extreme challenges, but in my experience this uphill course will be unique, going from the swim at the beach at Tywyn and ending with a run to the summit of Cader Idris. I can’t wait to test myself at this excellent event and hope many others will join me in the fight against blood cancer and raise as much money as possible for patients across the UK.”

Leukaemia survivor Geraint Rowlands, who set up the event, adds: “It’s fantastic that Shane will be joining us for this unique triathlon, all to raise funds and awareness for Bloodwise. I had leukaemia as a child so I know how important it is that we continue to help fund research into finding new treatments and cures that will save the lives of more patients with this disease which kills more people than breast or prostate cancer.”

Caderman has two distance options; the traditional sprint distance of a 600-metre swim, 37-kilometre cycle, five-kilometre uphill run and the extreme half-ironman distance of 1,900-metre swim, 90.5-kilometre cycle, and 13.1-mile uphill run.

To sign up please visit .bloodwise.org.uk/caderman