Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'Toulouse will play its part' - commemorative jersey to raise money for Notre Dame reconstruction

Toulouse players celebrate after their Champions Cup quarter-final victory. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

When Toulouse players run out for their Champions Cup semi-final with Leinster this weekend, they would be forgiven for their minds drifting almost 800 kilometres south-east where the fire-ravaged Notre Dame sits.

ADVERTISEMENT

There’s no question whether they will be able to focus on the game at hand; they’re professionals, after all, but it’s hard not to spend a moment contemplating the fire that has done so much damage to the French landmark, which is visited by nearly 13 million people each year.

It won’t just be the players’ condolences that they’ll send back to Paris, however.

Instead, Toulouse jerseys will be auctioned off after the game to raise funds for the future revitalisation of the 850 year-old Notre Dame. These jerseys, worn during the match with Leinster, will be emblazoned with an image of the French icon.

“What happened at the start of the week has not only touched the French people: it’s touched every member of the planet who has been affected by the tragedy of this universal and unifying symbol,” said Toulouse president Didier Lacroix.

“With the match this Sunday on the national and European stage, it seems natural that Toulouse will play its part, participating in this movement of solidarity born out of this disaster and towards the beginnings of the future reconstruction.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

68 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'Hugely revitalising': Former All Black excited by Jordie Barrett's Leinster stint Former All Black excited by Jordie Barrett's Leinster stint
Search