Manager of the Sporting Club Nègrepelisse Rugby, Olivier Belaygues is present, when he answers us, at the end of the 32nd final of Fédérale 3 between Léguevin and Villeneuve-sur-Lot on the pitch of the Jean-Fleury stadium. However, the Tarn-et-Garonnais club might not have been able to host this meeting this Sunday, April 28, 2024. “The town hall did a great job clearing and cleaning. »
Indeed, a few days earlier, during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, a fire destroyed the two prefabs which housed all the club’s equipment. A fire of which we do not know, for the moment, whether it is accidental or criminal. “We didn’t have far from 12,000 euros in it. Around twenty new balls, all the equipment necessary for training and matches, jerseys, shields, but also that of the rugby school,” lists Olivier Belaygues.
Called by the gendarmerie around 2:30 a.m. and arriving on site around fifteen minutes later, he could only observe the damage. The next day, he therefore launched a call for solidarity on the networks.
More than 4,000 euros raised
And the world of rugby responded. “The Castelsarrasin club gave us jerseys and balls, Albi will give us equipment and there are others,” rejoices this manager, happy to see “the beautiful rugby values. People are still calling me and the president of the French Federation, Florian Grill, sent me a text. »
Several companies came to offer their help to rebuild permanently and volunteers offered their services to the Nègrepelisse club… “In the end, it’s almost a blessing in disguise, it has strengthened the bonds,” underlines Olivier Belaygues. A Leetchi prize poollaunched on April 24, had already collected more than 4,400 euros this Monday, April 29.
