SOLIDARITY. “The whole rugby family helped us” all the equipment of a club was destroyed after a fire

The rugby club Nègrepelisse in Tarn-et-Garonne was the victim of a violent fire on the night of Tuesday 23 April to Wednesday 24 April. All the equipment intended to organize the meetings went up in smoke. This disaster generated an unprecedented wave of solidarity on social networks.

The Nègrepelisse Rugby Club will finally host the Round of 32 meeting of the Occitanie Federal 3 Championship, this Sunday, April 28. He was the victim of a fire and received help from a number of clubs.

Olivier Belaygues still can’t believe it. The manager of the Nègrepelisse rugby club in Tarn-et-Garonne is inundated with messages of support and offers of material help: “The whole rugby family stood up to help us” he testifies moved.

On the night of Tuesday 23 April to Wednesday 24 April, the club was exposed to a violent fire: “I was called by the fire service at three in the morning to come and see the damage”says Olivier Belaygues. “Everything was lost. There were balls, cameras, jerseys, bibs, goal posts, there’s nothing left.”

The club immediately launched a call for help on its Facebook account. For this Sunday, April 28, he must host a meeting in the 32nd final of the Occitanie federal 3 championship, against Léguevin against Villeneuve-sur-Lot.

The post was seen by more than 1,500 people. Anonymous people who gave their support, but also clubs who offered logistical help: “That is unbelievable”responds Olivier Belaygues. “Castelsarrasin sent us equipment, others quickly contacted us, even the president of the French Federation called me to tell me they were going to help us.”

Fortunately, the Nègrepelisse club finished its sports season 15 days ago. As for the damage from this fire, whose causes are not yet known, it has not yet been officially evaluated, but for Olivier Belaygues it will be important: “I think we can expect around 7 to 8,000 euros”says the manager.

A Leetchi fundraiser was launched to raise money. It has already reached the sum of 2180 euros in less than 24 hours. Nègrepelisse town hall, for its part, had the site cleaned and the waste removed, so that Sunday’s meeting could take place under the best possible conditions.