On 6 June, La Roche-sur-Yon will host the six national women’s finals, now gathered into a single format: F 18 Élite and Accession, Fédérale 1 and 2, Élite 1 and Élite 2 reserves. Quite a celebration of the women’s elite game in the Vendée. Enough to back up the La Roche-sur-Yon club’s determination to bet on the development of women’s rugby.

A crowd worthy of Auch expected at La Roche-sur-Yon

Squads, officials, 35 players per team across 12 teams: that adds up to 420 people. Add the supporters and, as at Auch last season, the total will not be far off 4,000 women’s rugby fans with their party spirit. A word of satisfaction for the Nancy side, who travel furthest and were granted accommodation as close to the ocean as possible. On the supporters’ front, the advantage goes to nearby La Rochelle, who will be well backed.

XXL logistics: 120 volunteers mobilised around the women’s finals

In logistical terms, it is quite a challenge: prefecture and municipal services, the departmental committee, the Pays de la Loire league, the fire service, the Protection Civile and 110 volunteers plus a private security firm. Coordinating the operation is the remarkable Patrice Lorieau, deputy chairman of the organising committee:

FC Yonnais Rugby, the Grand Ouest’s oldest club, rewarded

A fine reward for one of the oldest clubs in the Grand Ouest: FC Yonnais Rugby, founded in 1904, and that is no small thing. A club on solid foundations with its 500 registered members, its main pitch and its adjoining artificial surface.

Enough to be worthy of the trust placed in them this year to stage this masterful women’s format. And when opportunity meets the will of a club chaired by David Decoux, everyone wins.

Women’s rugby, a key development priority at La Roche-sur-Yon

The idea is to move things along and draw women and girls into rugby. The problem, the one facing the whole Grand Ouest, is finding pitches — mostly football pitches — fitted with sockets for rugby posts. La Roche-sur-Yon has both the good fortune and the talent to rely on strong contacts in primary schools, secondary schools and sixth-form colleges, thanks to the tireless work of its missionaries over the years.

Patrice Lorieau can lean on Ninon Allain, the club’s communications and events employee, on an in-house lead, Laure Racaud, who looks after women’s rugby, and on Hugo Berment, in charge of all women’s player development at FCY Rugby. Women’s rugby is a key development priority for this club of more than 500 registered members, with a first team firmly established in Fédérale 2. In the Pays de la Loire, the club is stamped “serious”, with an accredited academy, the fourth in the Pays de la Loire.

A round table on women’s sport on the eve of the finals

On Friday, the eve of the finals, the club is staging a round table (oval, rather) on women’s rugby and women’s sport in La Roche-sur-Yon, with representatives from handball, football and basketball. The talk will also turn to partnerships to be built and strengthened with the education world, whether primary, secondary or higher education, taking in all the training hubs La Roche has to offer.

Budget and partners

The finances behind this festival of women’s rugby? Less than 40,000 euros thanks to the support of partners, who deserve our thanks: the Kyriad, Hôtel de la Gare, Bistrot quai de la Gare, Pizzeria di Venezia, Restaurant les 3 Brasseurs, Cafétéria Crescendo in the Leclerc arcade. Along with AXA.

Tickets and schedule for the women’s finals on 6 June

Finally, tickets: https://www.billetweb.fr/finales-feminines-nationales-de-rugby-a-xv

Schedule for 6 June:

  • 11:00 — Women’s Under-18 – Accession: Aurillac vs Dax
  • 12:00 — Women’s Under-18 – Élite: Toulouse vs Agen
  • 13:45 — Women’s Fédérale 2: Villeneuve-sur-Marsan vs Racing 92
  • 15:45 — Élite reserves: ASM Romagnat vs Stade Bordelais
  • 16:45 — Women’s Fédérale 1: Nancy vs Puncheuse
  • 19:00 — Élite 2: Stade Rochelais vs Valkyries