James Owens and Ron Rutland safely delivered Thursday the official referee's whistle to be used for the opening game of the Rugby World Cup, completing the 231-day, 20,000-kilometer journey from London by bicycle and ship.

"It's amazing to be here. It's incredibly surreal," said Owens, 28, after the bearded pair cycled into Tokyo Stadium (Ajinomoto Stadium) amid applause, to hand the golden whistle to Welshman Nigel Owens, who will use it when he officiates Friday's opening match between Japan and Russia at the venue.

(James Owens (L) hands the whistle to referee Nigel Owens)

"We have been on a hell of a journey since we left London seven months ago. We are just so happy to be here," Hong Kong native James Owens said, thanking everyone for the support received during a trip through 27 countries that began Feb. 2 at Twickenham Stadium in London, venue of the 2015 World Cup final.

South African Rutland, 45, echoed that view, recalling the "thousands and thousands of people that we have met on the route. They have invited us into their homes, in their mosques and in their churches."

"James and I are looking forward to parking (the bicycles) and enjoying six weeks in this wonderful country," Rutland said.

Nigel Owens, regarded by many as the world's top rugby referee, was delighted to receive the whistle, saying, "It's very special. It's come a long way and I'm glad that they remembered to bring it because I haven't brought my own whistle."

Rutland and James Owens organized the trip to raise funds for ChildFund Pass It Back, a charity program to support children and young people in disadvantaged communities in Asia through rugby. They have raised more than 75,000 euros ($82,000), according to DHL International GmBH, official logistics partner of the tournament.

Rutland and Owens, who arrived in Osaka via ferry from Shanghai on Sept. 12, have averaged between 600 km and 700 km a week.

They experienced temperatures ranging from -12 C in Eastern Turkey to 42 C in India, suffered 14 punctures and reached an altitude of 4,600 meters in Pakistan's Khunjerab Pass.

The pair were joined on the final leg to the stadium by friends, including former Japan international Shotaro Onishi, and John Kirwan, who won the World Cup as a player with New Zealand in 1987, and coached Japan at the 2007 and 2011 tournaments.