On the initiative of the Societe Generale Foundation, the French Rugby Federation and Malagasy Rugby, three young Malagasy players from Terres en Mêlées kicked off the opening match of the VI nations tournament, France / Wales, Friday 1st February at the Stade de France, in front of 55,000 people.
Kick off match France – Wales – Six Nations Tournament – 1st February 2019
Marcelia, Sonia and Pela are three 20-year-old rugby players from small villages of Côte Saphir, a region in southwestern Madagascar. For the past 4 years, they have been supported by the Terres en Mêlées association’s educational programs, where they have access to weekly rugby training and awareness sessions about environment, health and sex education.
Their daily lives were turned upside down when the opportunity to organize a trip to France came up, 15 days before departure. After many administrative procedures and hours of travel to first reach Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, then Paris, Marcelia, Pela and Sonia arrived in France, under the snow and discovered this new universe.
After a visit to the mythical places of Paris (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, …) and an unforgettable evening at the Stade de France, where they rubbed shoulders with the biggest names in international rugby (Jonny Wilkinson, Thierry Dusautoir, …), young Malagasy have to visit the National Rugby Center in Marcoussis in the presence of the French women’s rugby team.
Marcelia, Safi N’diaye, player of the XV of France Female, Sonia and Pela.
The second part of the trip takes place further south, in Toulouse, where the association Terres en Mêlées is installed. During this last week, they will meet the passionate of the oval ball, in Occitan soil: a tour of the rugby clubs for women and men, professionals and amateurs allowed them to practice their favorite sport in conditions as well varied than enriching. This stay in Toulouse is also an opportunity for her to attend the screening of the film “La jeune fille et le ballon ovale” which Marcelia is the heroine.
Return to Madagascar scheduled for Friday, February 15 to begin their new life as a sport ambassador for development and continue their course.
TEM.
