11 new Covid cases on 17 Jan. brings total to 1,205: 31 hospitalised: 18 resident + 11 in ICU: 4 resident, 118 home monitored, 995 recoveries, 8 deaths
François Trinh-Duc (second from left) and Andrew Sheridan (right)
Tuesday night, more than a hundred rugby-related revellers gathered on the first floor of Cap d’Ail’s swanky A’trego restaurant to ring in 2017 with AS Monaco Rugby.
Team members, coaches, club sponsors, which include JB Pastor & Fils, Scoresoft and Gale Force, friends and a few special guests – current and former Toulonnais players François Trinh-Duc, Andrew Sheridan and Simon Shaw MBE – were on hand to engage the crowd. Beausoleil’s adjoint mayor, Gerard Destefanis, and French rugby flanker Jean-François Tordo were also present.
French rugby flanker Jean-François Tordo (second from left) and Beausoleil’s adjoint mayor, Gerard Destefanis (right)
The evening was hosted by Dan Luger, who was a member of the English squad that won the Webb Ellis Cup in 2003, a well-known sports figure in the Principality between his club involvement and his work with the Monaco-based non-profit association Peace and Sport.
The club has existed for 50 years but has never, for obvious reasons, had a local paddock in Monaco. So while there’s much international support for the game and the team, getting to matches has been a challenge. “We are a tiny club without a stadium,” Mr Luger commented, “but building a rugby club in Monaco is about creating a community.
During two open mike sessions between courses, the group was invited to ask François Trinh-Duc and Andrew Sheridan questions in English or French, which ranged from best rugby memory to how much the six foot five, 282 pound Mr Sheridan, could bench press (the answer is 210 kg). In addition, the retired Mr Sheridan, who is studying oenology and recently tried for his Level Four WSET certification, was presented with two glasses of wine to test.
“I’m here tonight just to enjoy myself,” he told Monaco Life, as he explained his passion for wine developed naturally after spending years in France.
Former English rugby union player who played at lock, Simon Shaw – who is 6’8” – assisted in the auction part of the evening, which ranged from a pair of new (and soon-to-be-signed) cleats, a shirt signed by Mr Sheridan and two tickets to the Six Nations France-England rugby match on February 4 (with the added bonus of drinks with Mr Shaw).
Jérémy Benstaali, director of the rugby school for youth, which has 170 licensed children, organises four major tournaments and eight training sessions, also took the floor. Mr Benstaali announced a touch rugby tournament for May 14, inviting local businesses to form teams and sign up.
AS Monaco’s next rugby match is January 29 at 5 pm against Uzes.
Monaco-based Formula E team Rokit Venturi Racing has been bought by an investor group, with founder Gildo Pastor retaining an interest and headquarters remaining in the Principality.
As the world mourns the death of football great Diego Maradona, we turn back time to 2003, when the Argentinian legend left his mark – quite literally – on the Principality.
Monegasque Formula One driver Charles Leclerc says he is suffering only mild symptoms after contracting Covid-19 and is in self-quarantine at his home in the Principality.
Talks will be held next week to decide the fate of this year’s Six Nations rugby tournament as France raises concerns about the potential spread of the new UK variant of the Covid virus.
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Sports organisations in Monaco have come together to reconfirm their commitment to Peace and Sport, the organisation which promotes peace using the power of sport under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The meeting on Tuesday 1st October aimed to create an active network of sports organisations committed with the promotion of sport for social good, as part of Peace and Sport's 10-year strategic planning.
Participants reiterated their support to the Peace and Sport Methodology and the annual #WhiteCard campaign, and their commitment to organising solidarity ticketing to benefit Peace and Sport field programs.
More than 20 representatives of clubs, federations and sports associations from Monaco attended the event including A.S. Monaco Omnisports, the Fédération Monégasque de Judo et Disciplines Associées, the Fédération Monégasque de Natation and the Association Monégasque des Athlètes Olympiques.
In the presence of Adrien Maré, Champion for Peace and Monaco Rallye Raid World Champion, and Marlène Harnois, Champion for Peace and Taekwondo Olympic medalist, the meeting was an opportunity to share best practices to maximise the use of sport for social good in Monaco and highlight memorable #WhiteCard initiatives and actions undertaken around the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
“The Principality is experiencing an incredible effervescence in terms of peace-through-sport initiatives,” said Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport. “Monegasque sports organisations are at the heart of the dynamics and share the positive values of sport internationally. Today, they renewed their wish to collaborate with Peace and Sport and we look forward to setting up new actions with them.”
During the meeting, several organisations took the floor to present their activities. A.S.M. Football Féminin talked about its involvement in the promotion of the Peace and Sport Methodology which develops adapted exercises to embrace the positive values of sport, such as dialogue and respect.
The International Martial Arts Centre of Monaco explained its financial support to Peace and Sport field programs through the implementation of a solidarity ticketing at the Monte-Carlo Fighting Masters. In two editions, profits funded part of the Friendship Games in the Great Lakes region of Africa and the Live Together program in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan.
“We have been supporting the activities of Peace and Sport for several years now and we can only encourage the Monegasque sports organisations to partner with Peace and Sport, to support its actions and to help spread its values,” said Claude Pouget, President of the International Academy of Martial Arts of Monaco.
The next important meeting organised by Peace and Sport will be the Peace and Sport International Forum held at the One Monte Carlo from 11th to 13th December. On this occasion, more than 600 decision-makers, including heads of state, strategic leaders from business and the sports world, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, representatives from civil society and international organisations, will discuss how the peace-through-sport movement can tangibly make a difference to our society.