At the initiative of the Rugby, Culture and Passion and Ugolf Albi Château de Lasbordes association, the first edition of Swing Oval brought together, in April, around sixty rugby players and a rugbywoman on the splendid Albigensian route. A meeting like no other, halfway between tee-time and third half, where the balls flew as well as the valves.
Do you appreciate champagne rugby? So savor his wedding with the golf course, to extend the party! On the initiative of the Rugby, Culture and Passion association (creator of the Rugbimages festival, which had been a great success until 2019 before being placed by the COVVID) and UGOLF Albi Château de Lasbordes, the first edition of Swing Oval brought together, in April, around sixty rugbymen and a rugbywoman (parity forced) on the splendid Albigensian course. A meeting like no other, halfway between tee-time and third half, where the balls flew as well as the valves.
The event was up to the ambitions of this atypical meeting between fairways and mixed. The rare waves of the day, from departure to the aperitif, sculpted the “protruding” muscles of the participants, who braved the elements in a good mood. Relaxed atmosphere on the greens, euphoria at the regulatory trincade and explosion of anecdotes during the meal. The time was sharing of a thousand memories of the two half-time … and especially the third.
The Albigensian Dream Team counted on the talents of Valax, Bories, Papakostas, Estampe, Barrau and Engelbrecht, formidable in the small game. The Gaillacois contingent, faithful to its reputation of finesse, bet on the Venzac, Regis and Mosna. The Graulhet cohort was led by the powerful “thoroughbred Percheron”, supported by Llarden and Guiraud. As for the strong Castraise delegation, she imposed her science of the game with Paulin, Girma, Valles, Gairaud, Pech Gourc, Dupont, Siman, Charlot, Arthur Vidal, Droubere, Maganiello and the essential Gérard Cholley. Carmaux was represented by Jouanel, Toulouse by Guiter and Jean-Jacques Castanet, Colomiers by dry (who putta dry), and Roux (without a combaluzier, but well hung on the greens). Several SC Albi players had joined the game, such as the internationals Pelous, Hyardet, Gourragne and Taffary, experienced golfers. Without forgetting the legendary voices of Jean Abeilhou and Omar Hasan, who came to lend their inimitable stamp to the event which was punctuated by a large discount of very beautiful lots offered by Shilton.
With such a gala poster, the organizers (Arnaud Rivieccio, Jack Bonnery, Jean-Marc Estampe, Yves Lagrèze and Laurent Segonne) had every reason to rejoice. Given the atmosphere that reigned until sunset, this first edition left in the spirits a delicious taste of “come back”. Appointment is therefore made for 2026, renewal voted unanimously … More a voice!
