Around the world, many Rotarians are interested in rugby and consider its values to be totally consistent with those of Rotary.
The Rotary Fellowship of Rugby Fans was created to bring together all Rotarians - and friends - who are passionate about rugby, and share the values conveyed by this sport, and wish to take action through it both locally and internationally.
The membership is free to celebrate launch !
We were delighted to highlight Philippe Sella’s initiative, which has been running for over 20 years: Les Enfants de l’Ovale.
Les Enfants de l’Ovale is much more than a sports project: it is an educational and social initiative that uses rugby as a tool for rebuilding, learning, and inclusion.
The association works with disadvantaged or troubled children in France and abroad, teaching them the values of rugby (respect, solidarity, courage) while providing them with a structured and supportive environment. Through its centers, it helps thousands of young people regain confidence, learn to work as a team, and open up new prospects for their future.
A global initiative that fully resonates with the values of our Fellowship.
To take this further, we are considering creating a Global Grant between Rotary Clubs to support the association in developing its existing centers or creating new ones, as proposed by Philippe Sella in his speech.
Philippe Sella, former French rugby player, regarded as one of the greatest centres in the history of this sport. He earned 111 caps for the French national team.
Known for his speed, strength and exceptional vision on the field, Sella was a key figure in French rugby during the 1980s and early 1990s. He was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2008.
HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
CALGARY
It was a pleasure to meet news friends joining the Fellowship
Welcome ! 🏈🏈
The Rotary Fellowship of Rugby Fans is at the Singapore International Convention !
Encouraging partnerships
The Rotary Fellowship of Rugby Fans sets out to develop interactions with Rotary clubs and rugby clubs Partnerships have just been launched in Montreuil and Aulnay-sous-Bois, two communes in Seine-Saint-Denis.
A solidarity meeting was organized at the Rugby club, a private club in Paris, on the occasion of the Ireland-France Six Nations Tournament match, in front of large screens for fans who couldn't make it to Dublin.
The match was followed by a well-known commentator, Jean-Claude Skrela, who provided pre-match remarks, technical insights throughout the game.
Benefits of the event were donated to the ligue d’Île-de-France de rugby, partner of the Fellowship, to be used towards the project.
Local actions already carried out
Several actions have been taken as part of Rotary's commitment to the integration of young people from priority neighborhoods in the city (QPV) through rugby, in partnership with the Île-de-France Rugby League. This includes, in particular, an accompanying action for the Corbeil-Mennecy rugby club led by the Rotary clubs Évry Corbeil and Évry Val de Seine, supported by District 1770.
This rugby club - one of the oldest in France - has 150 members and its primary objective is to offer children from working-class neighborhoods the opportunity to participate in this sport. Students from around a dozen primary schools in this area of Essonne benefit from playing rugby. Tangible results have been observed, according to the volunteers, who have noted a calming effect on behaviors in these challenging neighborhoods.
This support initiative will continue in different forms, especially since the results are promising: 28 girls and 3 boys have qualified at the departmental level, and 6 girls have qualified at the regional level.
Jean-François Mistou, president of Rotary Évry Corbeil
On a local level, Rotary has become a partner of the Ligue île de France de Rugby to promote the integration of young people through rugby.
A project has already been launched to help young people in Priority Urban Neighborhoods (Quartiers Prioritaires de la Politique de la Ville - QPV).
Many other "Rotary / Rugby" projects are carried out around the world: our Fellowship's raison d'être is to create a link between all these initiatives.