Big rugby night in Toulouse: when the oval ball makes the “south of France” shine
The Occitanie region, rugby territory par excellence, was at the party this Monday evening at the Casino Barrière in Toulouse.
It was at the Casino Barrière in Toulouse that the Occitanie region, through its president Carole Delga, invited 1,200 guests this Wednesday to a great evening celebrating rugby, a sport apart on these lands, one year before the Cup. of the world in France.
Under the aegis of “Sud de France”, a label which highlighted the know-how of regional producers, some of whom were present to share their products, many representatives of amateur rugby were there, as was the whole of the local professional world. .
“We have here part of the staff of the XV of France (William Servat, Editor’s note), lyou are wonderful presidents (Didier Lacroix, Pierre-Yves Revol, François Rivière, Alain Carré, Johan Dalla Riva, Frédéric Calamel, Michael Guedj, etc.), all these formidable professional players, and I do not forget our small clubs. They are all the ones who make our region live, who allow it to shine in the eyes of young people in particular”welcomed the vice-president of the Occitanie Region Kamel Chibli.
“Rugby has a societal role here, with more than four hundred clubs, and big names that have marked all generations. The link between our rugby players and the products of our regions is very strong. The values they convey, c is a source of pride for the inhabitants of our territories.”
A host of players
Proposals echoing those of the presidents who have succeeded on stage to enhance the anchoring of their clubs, or the images retracing their glorious hours on the giant screen.
Under the eyes of Romain Ntamack, François Cros, Louis Carbonel, Leo Coly, Anthony Bouthier, Alexis Palisson, the Montpellier manager and French champion Philippe Saint-André, his alter ego from Perpignan Patrick Arlettaz or even all the Castres (Mathieu Babillot, Benjamin Urdapilleta, Gaëtan Barlot, Rory Kockott, etc.) who came from the Tarn with the club bus, but also former glories such as Émile Ntamack, Jean-Pierre Garuet or Philippe Dintrans, it was also an opportunity to launch a event for which the region will vibrate, namely the 2023 World Cup.
“The Shield is still in our region and we do not intend to return it tomorrow”smiled Jean-Michel Baylet, president of the La Dépêche Group, to remind us that this territory shines in this sport.
And Midi-Olympic (partner for the organization of the evening) being part of the group, to launch on stage: “Midi Olympique is the bible of rugby and our newspaper is involved in the World Cup.”
After the screening of a film on the history of the World Cup, the president of GIP France 2023 Jacques Rivoal described this future World Cup as “huge stuff” : “The Rugby World Cup is the third sporting event in the world, it’s a superb popular celebration.”
Julien Collette, Managing Director of the 2023 World Cup Organizing Committee continuing: “The most numerous rugby fans in France are in this region. We need partners and at the head of the communities that have invested, there was the Occitanie region. Thanks to it, and I thank Carole Delga and Kamel Chibli , we are going to highlight the terroirs of all this territory.”