At the dawn of the World Cup semi-finals, another rugby is coming to Paris. From October 18 to 22, the International Wheelchair Rugby Cup brings together the eight best nations in the world at the Halle Carpentier, then at the Accor Arena, venue for the finals next Sunday. For the first time, the disabled sports competition is organized in France. Everything but a coincidence, one year before the Paralympic Games which have included the discipline in the program since the 2000 edition in Sydney. “The objective is to put the spotlight on the event by taking advantage of the media coverage of rugby union,” explains Jacques Rivoal, president of the France 2023 Organizing Committee, in charge of the project, which is based around “the desire to ‘inclusion of people with disabilities’ and the discovery of a sport still unknown to the general public.
Invented in Canada in the 1970s, wheelchair rugby now has nearly 250 members in France, 12 of whom make up the French selection. “This competition is an opportunity to show that our sport exists,” says Corentin Le Guen, former XV player who has become quadriplegic and international since 2015. The whole team is keen to take advantage of it and prove that we can do contact sport at a high level despite our handicap.
Played on a basketball court, with a volleyball and possible forward passes, armchair rugby is so called because of the physical difficulty of a match, the numerous collisions authorized between the armchairs requiring a “spirit warrior” to make his way to the goal. Still in the shadow of rugby union, it only asks for visibility, the 2022 European Championship organized in Paris having laid the first stone of a new exhibition. In a week without World Cup matches – the semi-finals will take place next weekend – France 2023 has adjusted the schedule to offer 20 matches in five days during this tournament. With the primary aim of uniting the French public around Paralympic sport.
“Rugby shares humanist values, fraternity and openness to others,” recalls Jacques Rivoal. On the field, all physical profiles are found, both the big strong ones and the small, agile and fast ones. We hope that this diversity of profiles will be open to all people experiencing exclusion or difficulty integrating into society.” Also committed to the fight against homophobia and the integration of isolated seniors and young people from neighborhoods, the organizing committee has placed these social issues “at the heart of its reflections”, offering tickets accessible at 5 euros to 30 000 spectators expected. It now remains for the French team to increase the enthusiasm tenfold with a successful performance.
Placed in Pool A, with New Zealand, Japan and the American vice-world champion, the Blues are aiming for victory at home. “The more good results we have, the more the public and potential partners will follow,” explains Corentin Le Guen. Despite its amateur status, unlike its now professional opponents, the French team is approaching the International Cup with ambition, on the strength of its two consecutive crowns at the European Championships (2022 and 2023). “Playing competitions of this standard is very important for us because the best teams in the world do not necessarily play in Europe,” concedes the man who created, in 2011, an armchair rugby club in Nuits-Saint-Georges (Burgundy). Franche-Comté).
In addition to Denmark and Great Britain, the reigning Paralympic champion, France could meet, if it qualifies for the semi-final, the formidable Australia and Canada. In order to validate increasing performances, which “are no longer exploits”, she hopes to shine on her home soil before planning on objective number 1: the Olympic deadline. “Missing the victory this year but winning the gold medal at the Games, I’m signing directly!” concludes Le Guen, who had the 6th place obtained in Tokyo in 2021. In progress for ten years, the national selection armchair rugby wants to draw inspiration from Antoine Dupont’s XV of France, accustomed to popular support despite the disillusionment against South Africa. See you this Wednesday (6 p.m.) for the first group match, against the United States at Halle Carpentier. The start of a new adventure under the spotlight lit by the 2023 World Cup, which intends to bring others in the future.