Barbarians Aware, a rugby association that gives you wings
An association: rugby and friends
The Barbarians Aware were born in 2010. A group of friends, whose common link was an internship at Airbus, decided to make their leisure rugby team a vehicle for generosity. Indeed, Airbus's leisure team, the A3XV, used to share convivial moments on and off the field. Leisure rugby is a good way to bring together a team of work colleagues by transforming them into brothers in play. The magic of rugby works within companies and can even have benefits that extend beyond the professional sphere. The proof of this is the beautiful story Mathieu, the founder of Barbarians Aware, told me. He had dreamed of rugby and discovered his passion late in life, as it was at the age of 25, in 2004, that he joined the A3XV. This team was a revelation for him, the discovery of another family he never wanted to leave. He decided to keep his team alive through a charitable dimension, using rugby as an event lever.
In 2010, he met Serge Lévi, a Toulouse-based chartered accountant, passionate about sports and particularly long-distance running. Highly involved in the associative world, Serge was in remission from bone marrow cancer. As treasurer of the bone marrow transplant recipients' association of Midi-Pyrénées, the meeting between the two men clicked: the A3XV gave wings to the players who transformed into Barbarians Aware.
A few days later, Mathieu received a call from France Alzheimer, who also wanted to be supported by the Toulouse team. Unable to choose between two noble and tragic causes, the BA association was born, linking its existence to the other two associations.
How the association works: how does it raise funds?
Every year, former players from the 2004 generation, who now live all over the world, lace up their boots again for their chosen association. A gala match with entertainment and a meal are organized. Sponsors and patrons participate in the event and share an exceptional moment of sport and generosity. The ways of raising funds can be very original, because in addition to the traditional auctions of jerseys and other rugby items, you can also rent a player for 1 hour. I don't know exactly how much you can benefit from the player's services, a curiosity that should encourage you to delve deeper into the matter, but what is certain is that at Trevor Brennan's, renting the player at your table allows you to drink for free for 1 hour!
The last event raised 7000 euros, which was donated to the historical associations as well as to the Laurette Fugain association.
This money is used, for example, to convert isolation rooms for transplant patients to make them more comfortable, or to organize trips or support meetings for families with a member suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
A historical link with the Blagnac club and Occitanie
Of course, the links between Airbus and Blagnac are obvious to the people of Toulouse, but it is important to know that these links are also materialized in rugby, since Airbus's leisure team is licensed by the Blagnac rugby club, which makes all its sports facilities available to the association. This link is found through the personalities of the godfathers who accompany the events, including Guy Novès and Rodrigo Capo Ortega.
Mathieu, rugby fanatic and rugby lover
Mathieu is a true enthusiast. His emotion is palpable when he talks about rugby, and some rugby players are like knights or modern-day heroes to him: Marfaing, Poitrenaud, whom he calls the ultimate fullback, or Bonneval, Rancoule, Charvet are aesthetes and creative players who make him dream, as he likes to say.
Today, he has a particular admiration for Thibaud Flament, whose life and professional journey he considers to be very rich. Having played in Argentina and for the Wasps at only 26 years old, this mobility demonstrates the player's maturity and adaptability.
Mathieu compares rugby to love at first sight; he fell in love with this sport very young, even if he played it late, rugby has always been in his heart. If it had been up to him, he would have played much younger, but his mother was afraid he would get hurt. It was through an open day at Airbus that Mathieu sealed his love for rugby and became a practitioner of this surprising religion.
His rugby memories:
- 2 months of training in Scotland as a student
- Rob Howley's try for the Wasps in the H Cup final against Stade Toulousain, snatching victory in 2004
- Cedric Heymans kicking a 50-meter penalty against Biarritz in 2006
And finally, a more personal memory as a player, in 2016 during a veterans' 10s tournament in Dubai. Last play of the match against the English, Mathieu recalls: "relaunch from our 22 and I make the decisive pass, we win in the last minute, my teammate cried, it was powerful."
Barbarians Aware and Religion Rugby
My wife gave me a striped t-shirt and I fell in love with the brand. I'm tall, 1.90 m, and I had trouble finding t-shirts that fit my build; they were often too wide or too short. And of course, RR is a brand that belongs to the rugby family and embodies the values I defend through my association: generosity, mutual aid, and courage.
What do you expect from the 2023 World Cup?
"Pleasure above all, and the culmination of the work done with a world title."
Final word:
THANK YOU to all the volunteers, association members, and players
It's easier to ask 100 people for 10 euros than to ask 1 person for 1000 euros. Let's play collectively for noble causes, asking costs nothing! So don't hesitate to make a donation to support their action!
You can follow the Barbarians Aware association via their Instagram account and ask for information by email using the following details:
INSTAGRAM: @b_aware_asso
FACEBOOK: Barbarians Association (B.aware)
email: asso.barbarians.aware@gmail.com
