Suisse Rugby Day Plan-les-Ouates 2022

On the program of the Rugby Festival, a Tournament of the Rugby Schools of the region, with more than 180 kids coming from GPLO, Terre Sainte, Servette Lignon, CERN Meyrin, La Côte - Gland, Lausanne, Avusy and Union Jura.  And 2 international matches counting for the 2021-2022 Rugby Europe Trophy Women and Men. 

Thanks to the help of the RC GPLO club, and its many volunteers, this Suisse Rugby Day is a real popular success.  More than 1200 spectators, coming from all over Switzerland, were present during this day dedicated to Rugby. Fans even came by bus from Zurich, Neuchatel and Lugano to join the party.

For the Rugby School Tournament, we will remember the enormous pleasure and the joy of the kids for taking part to this particular day.  After having played for 2 hours and having enjoyed a snack offered by our partner ANDROS, the highlight of the day was the opportunity to participate to the party with the "big boys », to welcome them on the pitch and to share the anthems with them.

For the 1st match, the Women fell against a difficult Swedish team, strong of several professional players, who came to assert their domination on the Trophy 2021-2022 and to ensure their bid to the higher Championship division.  Sweden succeeded in its objective, dominating the first half without contest.  But our valorous Swiss Women showed courage and abnegation by levelling the playing field with this Swedish team during the 3/4 of the 2nd half, before giving up at the end of the game.  Final score 48 to 0 for Sweden which thus wins the 2021-2022 Rugby Europe Trophy.  But our players can be proud of their reaction and build on this base before flying to Finland late May.

This match was also the opportunity for 2 new players to make their first cap with the Swiss team.  Congratulations to Aurélie LEMOUZY, and to Julie LUZI. 

For the Men's match, we could have feared another one-sided match, as Belgium arrived in Switzerland with ambition and certainties building on its 2 previous victories.  But supported by a large active public, the Nati offered a great victory in a game which was as exciting as breathtaking, especially in the last minutes. 

After their 2 defeats in November, the Swiss players worked a lot during the winter, gathering 5 times to work together and prepare this game with Nati’s Staff.  Based on this extra work, they attacked the match with great confidence, and scored the 1st try by N° 14, Hugo Malyon, on the 5th minute.  This try was converted by N°9 Simon Perrod to lead 7-0 right from the beginning of the match.  Belgium, taken by this craze, did not know how to manage the situation, and the Nati controlled the game very well, remaining solid in defence and very disciplined, to score 5 more penalties and lead 22-6 at the 64th minute. 

At the end of the game, Belgium finally reacted by attacking and scoring 2 tries to put the pressure on the Nati ... and also on the public who pushed hard behind our players and ended up exulting to greet this superb victory of the Swiss players who see their efforts of the winter take shape and pay.

This match was also the opportunity for 5 new players to make their first cap with the Swiss team. Congratulations to Cameron HOLENSTEIN, Antoine CRAMONT, Max DUCOMMUN, Geoffrey FABBRI, and Ahmed KANE.  We can also note the presence of more than 20 Former Swiss International players who carried out their first official gathering and who received a diploma from Oliver WOLF, President of the FSR. 

The day ended as it began, with children joining the players to get autographs ... the important message of the day lays on that final image.  The transmission of rugby values and the development of rugby in Switzerland.  What a beautiful day !