When you are tucking into your sprouts and turkey on Christmas Day and knocking back a glass or two of vino, spare a thought for Ashley Varley – but not for too long.

The long-standing Harlequins fan and season ticket holder will be preparing for an important job that might well determine whether his favourites club’s Big Game 8 clash with Gloucester starts on time – if at all.

The 43-year-old engineer is set to deliver the match ball for the Premiership tie at Twickenham on December 27, but he has committed to running it all the way from his Hastings home in time for kick-off.

Twenty four hours have been set aside to complete the 78-mile trip, meaning he will be running through the night on Boxing Day to make certain director of rugby Conor O’Shea and his men are not left kicking their heels in the dressing room.

No-one has forced him, he didn’t even bet someone he could do it on a drunken night in his local pub.

Varley, a Quins fan since 1999, voluntarily put his hand up for the challenge and has been driving to Twickenham on an especially plotted course for each of Harlequins’ home games this term to help him commit the route to memory.

It will be a lonely vigil with only his wife – in a support vehicle – for company, but it will be worth it if he hits his target of raising £3,000 for Big Game charity Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

“I have run marathons before and the furthest I have run is 40 miles, but there is not much you can do to prepare for it,” he said.

“All you can do is prepare to run a marathon and then try and slow your speed enough to be able to complete three back-to-back.

“I think I’ll complete the first two inside 12 hours and then I should have more than 10 hours to finish it, which – even If I walk – I should be able to do that.

“I don’t know why I added the extra pressure of delivering the ball for kick-off, but I should be OK.

“My seats will be waiting there for me when I arrive.”

* To sponsor Ashley Varley visit virginmoneygiving.com/AshleyVarley.