They took full eyes. Béryl, Lucie, Nina and Tamara played for the US Salles under-15 team in the Orange Rugby Challenge in the den of the XV of France, at the Center National du Rugby in Marcoussis. A competition that brought together 46 teams from all over France selected during departmental then regional qualifying stages.
Before playing in this national final, players spent Friday evening at the Stade de France to watch the coronation of Montpellier against Castres. The participants of the Orange Rugby Challenge even had the right to a presentation to the public in the form of a lap of honor one hour before the kick-off of the final. “It was an incredible moment, Lucia says. It’s the first time we’ve come to the Stade de France and on TV it looks much smaller. In addition, we do not feel the atmosphere at all in the same way”.
– Yves Maugue
“We shouted with the supporters, says Nina. LThe people of Montpellier were less lively than the people of Castres who were just below us, but it was very nice“.
On the training grounds of the XV of France
The next morning, after a short night, direction Marcoussis and the Center National du Rugby, the base camp of the XV of France. Les Salloises get together on the pitch to take part in the Orange Rugby Challenge workshops. On the menu, questions about the rules of the game and rugby technique workshops.
Rugby is a game that allows you to live great stories with friends.
At the edge of the field, former internationals Sébastien Chabal, Vincent Clerc and Emile Ntamack monitor the services provided. “Saying I’m going to give them advice on kicking or passing would be a bit presumptuous of me.slips into a smile Sébastien Chabal. What is done here is fundamental. Young people work on the phases of the game that they will encounter throughout their career and that they must master. There is a competitive aspect to it, but above all we feel that the girls and boys are having fun. We see that they have their eyes full, it’s good to make them dream, that they don’t forget that rugby is a game that allows you to live great stories with friends”.
– Yves Maugue
While the Orange Rugby Challenge has existed for more than 20 years, a new workshop has been added for this 2022 edition. It concerns digital technology with education around the dangers of screens. “This makes it possible to make young people aware of the good uses of digitalexplains Stéphane Tardivel, director of sponsorship, partnerships and events at Orange France. We know that at these ages, screens are everywhere. We send a few messages, for example on cyber-harassment, it’s important”.
– Yves Maugue
For Les Salloises, this participation in the final of the Orange Rugby Challenge sounded like a reward. “We launched this minimal team at the start of the season, explains Jean-Luc Moucheboeuf, one of the two Sallois educators present in Marcoussis. For the first time, the girls are not playing with the boys and it is the only women’s team in this category in Gironde. It’s wonderful to be back here at the end of this first year. And when I see the smiles of the girls, it really makes me happy“.”It’s a pride, completes the other educator Philippe Marcuzzi. The girls put a lot of pressure on themselves, but this challenge will make them mature and grow. And it’s encouraging so that we can set up a younger team at the start of the school year.“.
– Yves Maugue