Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco headed to Paris last week to attend the inaugural edition of the Provale Solidarité gala, a star-studded event organised by France’s leading union for rugby players with the goal of raising funds to support players in navigating life after the sport.
Provale is France’s national union for male and female rugby players – a sport and cause appreciated by both Prince Albert and Princess Charlene – and the new gala initiative provided an opportunity for the union to garner support for its assistance programmes that help players navigate significant post-career challenges, from injuries to career transitions.
More than 300 guests, including Monaco’s Princely couple and iconic players from the French-speaking world, attended the event at the Four Seasons Hotel George V on Friday 14th March.
The union’s president, Malik Hamadache, a French-Algerian rugby union player, led the evening, while former France captain Thierry Dusautoir was the main sponsor of the event and hosted the auction, which featured match-worn and signed jerseys from renowned players, rugby balls and art. An impressive €100,000 was raised over the course of the evening.
Meanwhile, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene received four colourful Celaire Franck rugby balls personalised with their names and those of their 10-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.
“All proceeds from the event will go towards funding Provale’s initiatives to support former players in difficulty,” confirmed the Palais Princier de Monaco in a statement. “Too often overlooked, the challenges these athletes face after their careers are very real, including lingering injuries, difficulties in professional reintegration and issues linked to the intensity of their sporting lives. Thanks to this charitable initiative, Provale will be able to continue its mission and provide crucial support to those who need it most.”
Princess Charlene, a former professional athlete herself, has developed a keen interest in rugby in recent years and was elected President of the Monegasque Rugby Federation at the end of 2024.
Her presence at the gala evening underscored Princess Charlene’s commitment to promoting the core values of the sport, namely respect, dedication and teamwork.
The statement shared by the Palais Princier de Monaco noted, “Through Her Foundation, the Princess also promotes education through sport and social inclusion. Believing that sport is a powerful driver of integration and resilience, she strives to support players at every stage of their journey, both on and off the field.”
To see more of the gala, click on the images below:
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Left to right in main photo: Mathieu Giudicelli, General Director of Provale, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene of Monaco, and Malik Hamadache, President of Provale. Photos source: Palais Princier de Monaco