Jacques Rivoal and Stephane Troussel. Louis Mouret
On the occasion of the signing between France 2023 and Seine-Saint-Denis of an agreement for the development of rugby, several projects were presented this Wednesday.
With 10 matches at the Stade de France, Seine-Saint-Denis should be at the heart of the 2023 World Cup to be held in France from September 8 to October 28. Wanting to take advantage of this event to popularize the oval ball, the Ile-de-France department and France 2023 signed an agreement on Wednesday to promote the development of rugby in Seine-Saint-Denis.
If the 2007 World Cup, co-organized by France, served as the first impetus for the deployment of rugby in disadvantaged neighborhoods, expectations for the 2023 edition are even higher. To make rugby a major sport in Seine-Saint-Denis, the departmental council, led by Stéphane Troussel, did not hesitate to make investments to educate young people about rugby. With this agreement and the actions launched after the call for projects, the objective is to retain young people in the practice of rugby.
Projects that unite around rugby
Present this Wednesday, Alexandre Martinez, the interim president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), wanted to welcome the initiatives taken by the department. “One of the most important dimensions is all that it will generate around (of the World Cup). And as you can see on the side pitch, that’s all this World Cup can bring. There we find the true values of rugby: inclusion, solidarity, respect, everything that makes rugby.»
Today’s training in Pantin with the young U12. Louis Mouret
Indeed, before the start of this press conference, were exposed, on the synthetic field of Pantin, 3 of the 20 projects set up to raise awareness of the Séquanodionysiens to the oval ball. With the “Extra Ordinaries”, presented as “a pride of the department“by Jean-Luc Pussacq (president of the Departmental Rugby Committee of Seine-Saint-Denis), these are brand new rules that allow people with physical or mental disabilities to practice rugby alongside players “ordinary“. A little further on, it was the female hopefuls of the Patin club who were training right next to around thirty U12s from the Pantin and Drancy clubs.
Supported by the USEP (Sporting Union for Primary Education) and the UNSS (National Union of School Sports), Seine-Saint-Denis is proud to be able to rely on schools, colleges and high schools in the area. to encourage young people to play rugby. With 90% of young players coming from school, the efforts made to allow practice in schools now seem to be bearing fruit. Julie Rouzaud, volunteer leader of the Drancy club, presented a project involving a school tournament between CM2 and 6th graders. “There is a need to revive the physical activity of this age group which has deserted the clubs since the Covid. They are not well physically and mentally and they must be accompanied“, she explained.
The presentation of the various projects in the field by Jean-Luc Pussacq. Louis Mouret
A vision of the future
This project on the city of Drancy should be accompanied by “awareness sessionsto the attention of young people but also their families and their teachers. The objective is to “make rugby part of their daily lives and that in September, all families are in front of their TV to support the French team.“Stéphane Roussel abounded in the same direction by announcing the distribution of 4,000 tickets for the 2023 World Cup to the Séquanodionysiens. A decision which should also allow rugby to enter the homes of Seine-Saint-Denis.
With a broader vision, it was finally Jacques Rivoal who presented the various initiatives proposed by France 2023, of which he is the president. Looking forward to welcoming “an exceptional competition», he recognized Seine-Saint-Denis as an exemplary department. He said that a neighborhood tournament would take place shortly, to allow 6,000 young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods to practice rugby and, for the best, to be able to attend the small final of the World Cup.
Alexandre Martinez, the interim president of the FFR during his speech. Louis Mouret
Above all, the signing of this agreement was an opportunity to talk about the Montbrand Stadium project again. Sold as a “centre d’excellence» or the «rugby academy in the 93by Bertrand Kern, it must represent the symbol that in Seine-Saint-Denis, “there are opportunities for the development of rugby“. To accommodate as many young people as possible and make this center a success, the leaders involved in the project must agree with Alexandre Martinez. To please as many people as possible and give a good image of rugby, the president of the FFR has only one wish for the Blues: “Winning the World Cup.»
