They were premiership team-mates in 2005 and now Ryan O’Keefe and Jared Crouch are teaming up again to lead a cycling tour through China.

The “Wild China Challenge’’ will be a 15 day journey through Yunnan Province in south China from October 8-22 this year.

The pair are inviting people to join them, and promise the trip will get fellow travellers out of their comfort zone, and ‘’test them mentally and physically’’.

At the end of last football season Crouch and O’Keefe  journeyed through Vietnam with a group of fellow cyclists - who were mainly middle-aged recreational cyclists up for a challenge.

They enjoyed it so much, and found it to be so inspiring, that the pair have joined forces and put together another trip.

Ryan was unable to cycle last year and had to go along for the ride in a mini-bus due to post-season groin surgery so he’s desperate to get on his bike this year.

“It was such a great experience and really showed the benefits of mateship and helping each other achieve something,’’ O’Keefe said.

“It was inspiring for some of the middle aged people on last year’s ride, and we found  it inspiring watching them push themselves to achieve things they didn’t know they could.’’

O’Keefe believes the cycling will be just one aspect of the mountain bike challenge, which will take in the Tiger Leaping Gorge, a contender for the world’s deepest river canyon.

“It is all about teamwork and leadership skills, which are the things we learn in the football environment. And it is also a great experience to interact with different cultures,’’ O’Keefe said.

“The trip will be as hard as people want to make it. It’s not a race - it’s all in the journey.

“We make sure everyone gets through, just as you do in a team. There was a 65-year-old woman on the trip in Vietnam last year and she was fantastic.’’

To find out how to join Ryan and Crouchy’s Wild China Challenge, contact Ross Lewis at rosslewis1@live.com or ph 0414 333 420, or click on the image below for further details.

Ryan and Jared will hold an information night on Tuesday June 21 at 6.30pm for those interested in the tour.

Please contact Ross Lewis for details.