For its 14th edition, the VI districts tournament organized by the RCN returns in force. On the field of the Kaufmann stadium, 120 young people from 9 to 11 years old from six priority districts will defend the colors of their sector all this week.
Friday, April 18, forget professional crampons and television melee: the real show is at the Kaufmann stadium that it happens. On the lawn of the Rugby Club Nîmes (RCN), no international sponsors, but 120 minots from 9 to 11 years old, from the six priority districts of Nîmes, ready to do battle oval in hand.
Valdegour, Pissevin, Gambetta, Route d’Arles, Mas de Mingue, Chemin-Bas d’Avignon: this 14th edition of the VI districts tournament brings together the different political districts of the city around the same objective: discovering the values of rugby.
A lever for social inclusion
“I like to think that through sport, we can put young people in sports rules that precede professional rules”. A daring, but already winning bet: for 14 years that the RCN has been playing the scientists between rugby and working -class districts. And it works! Each year, an entire week of training is devoted to these young people where respect, solidarity and surpassing oneself are of bets. And for those who want to continue the adventure? “The RCN supports contributions. We do not want money to be a brake on practice”continues its president Steeve Calligaro.
The tournament final, this Friday, April 18, will see the six teams in “VI Nations in NîMoise sauce” compete. And for the winners? Direction The departmental final of the national neighborhood tournament, on May 21. Just that. But beyond tests and tackles, this tournament is above all like a social inclusion lever, as François Courdil, deputy delegate at the social centers, pointed out, at the Drop brasserie this Monday, April 14: “This event is a flagship moment in the life of the city’s social centers. It is also a moment that allows you to open up to a sport and a collective.” What is more, a collective where girls have their place as much as boys.
Midi Libre – Pierre Meuriot
Around the microphone this Monday morning, we no longer counted institutional support. Richard Tibérino, for Agglo, Vincent Bouget, Departmental Councilor of Gard, or Mathias Nieps, sub-prefect-and proud carrying a jersey of the previous publishing of the tournament-, all praised a social action that hits the thousand. “This jersey is not just that of a club, it is that of the general interest”greeted the sub-prefect. All insist: rugby can help to ease tensions between neighborhoods, to create a link, to open horizons that are sometimes too narrow.
