A special moment unfolded at Collège Charles III on Wednesday morning, as Princess Charlene, President of the Fédération Monégasque de Rugby, joined students for the final of a unique design competition that will see one pupil’s artwork turned into the official jersey for Monaco’s U16 national rugby sevens team.

Now in its second edition, the Concours Créatif du Maillot is a collaborative initiative between the Fédération Monégasque de Rugby, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, and the Department of Education, Youth and Sport. It gives young people the opportunity to express themselves creatively while connecting with the values of teamwork, identity, and international friendship through sport.

This year, nearly 160 students from Years 7 to 10 at Collège Charles III took part, dedicating five weeks to crafting their own version of the jersey that will be worn by the national side during the upcoming international rugby sevens tournament in Dubai at the end of November. The brief was to combine symbols of Monaco and South Africa, along with the logos of the Rugby Federation and the Foundation, into an original and meaningful design.

Princess Charlene, accompanied by her brother Gareth Wittstock, Secretary General of her Foundation, warmly congratulated the 158 participants and personally acknowledged the efforts of the 17 finalists.

The three top designs were awarded, with the winning entry created by Yohann Fonkoa, a Year 10 student, who will now see his artwork worn on the international stage. As an added gesture, he will receive a one-of-a-kind jersey signed by the U16 players themselves.

After the ceremony, Princess Charlène took time to meet with the students, exchanging words of encouragement and signing their design mock-ups.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Main photo credit: Frédéric Nebinger, Prince’s Palace