A rugby player sexually abused speaks out and saves children
The colossus with feet of clay mends hearts and prevents new suffering
Religion Rugby, a rugby brand, invites you to discover associations related to rugby in the 3rd section of its blog. This connection can be multifaceted, either through the personality of its president or one of its members, or through its purpose. At Religion Rugby, everything always starts with a story of affinity and friendship. This is why we have chosen to begin our section by highlighting the association Le colosse au pied d’argile, founded by Sébastien Boueilh. This association is already known, some of you may have already heard of it, but no matter, even if this article only allows one child or teenager affected by the scourge of sexual violence to discover it, it will be another match won.
A rugby player victim of sexual assault: a heartbreaking story
Before becoming a colossus, Sébastien Boueilh was just a child. A young rugby player, he was also part of a music group in his village. Every Friday, accompanied by his cousin's husband, who was also part of the group, he would be sexually abused by him. Sébastien was 11 years old at the time, family was sacred, and in his upbringing, older people were respected, even more so when they participated in family meals. This is what his aggressor told him: what I'm doing to you is normal, it's for your own good, it's part of your learning. Sébastien trusted him, he walled himself in silence, in self-disgust, in a feeling of shame and guilt. On the evening of his first assault, he went home, vomited, shed a few tears. He then declared that he had been emotionally anesthetized, and he would never cry again. The ordeal lasted 4 years, an eternity. Then, silence, a long solitary journey, consumed by an unspeakable evil. With a broken heart and a bruised body, Sébastien fell into the traps of alcohol and gambling to forget, until one day, he spoke, and the words were freed, and Sébastien began to get better.
Rugby to get better.
Rugby helped Sébastien, the oval ball became an outlet. The anger he harbored could be expressed through his passion for the game. Opponents became the receptacles of his suffering.
"I used the anger I had within me to achieve my goals. I wanted to be the best all the time because, when you're violated, your whole personality is stolen from you (...) Luckily I had rugby, otherwise I don't know how I would have ended up,"
Rugby, friends, commitment, matches allowed Sébastien to distance himself, to forget for a moment that not everything was so bad. However, the healing was only temporary because after the matches, friends, and light, there was darkness, the kind that grips you in the solitude of your nights and haunts you through wordless images.
18 years of silence: from verbalizing suffering to creative healing
No one in his entourage was aware of the abuse he had suffered, and one day the athlete finally broke down during a conversation with his wife. He confessed the incest he had been a victim of. Two weeks later, he and his childhood friend Mathieu filed a complaint against the monster. The trial began on May 27, 2013, at the Landes Assize Court. The rugby player felt "under pressure" as he did when he entered the field. "Especially when it was my turn to take the stand (...) where I heard the defense lawyer say, 'But Mr. Boueilh, you were very eager.' I took an uppercut when I heard that." The monster was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Upon the announcement of the sentence, "all the anger and hatred I had against everyone gave way to emotions, and I started to cry, to love people," Sébastien Boueilh confided. A few days after his aggressor's conviction, the former rugby player decided to found Colosse aux pieds d'argile to raise awareness among young people about sexual violence and encourage them to speak out. "In eight years, there hasn't been a single intervention where I haven't had a victim in front of me."
"Despite four years of rape, eighteen years of silence and self-destruction, I am living proof that you can get through it. And for that, you have to talk, shame must change sides, we are not guilty, we are victims."
When we talk about creative or cathartic healing, we can only mention Sébastien's book or the film where the role of the colossus is played by Eric Cantona. Art is at the service of the heart, appeasement, and transmission.
click on the link to see the film's soundtrack
A special link between the colossus and Religion Rugby
In 2018, Religion Rugby, through Christelle Brua, invited several French chefs to participate in the "Coqs en Toque" project for Sébastien's association. The idea was simple: to carry out a communication operation in Paris at the Pré Catelan, a famous Michelin-starred restaurant of Chef Anton, during an M6 Capital TV show. The invited chefs naturally accepted. Each chef then wore a marinière from the RR rugby brand and posed for photos. A rugby t-shirt was specially made for the occasion, and the profits were donated to the association. This operation created strong ties between Le Colosse aux Pieds d'Argile, the world of gastronomy, and Religion Rugby. The association's 10th anniversary is proof of this, as some of the chefs present in 2018 continue to support Sébastien.
The work done by Sébastien is incredible; he managed to transform his wound into strength and used his own suffering as a weapon to fight against predators. Not only does he heal the inner wounds of victims, but he also prevents other horrors from being committed. By shattering the idealistic mirror of sports environments, he highlights the fact that monsters always hide closest to their fantasies. The many associations and sports federations that have agreed to sign an agreement with the colossus lift the veil of the unspeakable, which was previously kept at the cost of many unspoken words and much suffering. Sébastien, on behalf of all athletes, whatever their level, and also on behalf of our children, Religion Rugby extends its deepest respect and friendship to you. Our men's clothing brand is inspired by rugby; you fully embody the values of courage, strength, and resilience that we try to defend.
Julien, Jean-Charles (creators of RR) and Sébastien
The Colossus's 10th Anniversary
The Colossus association will celebrate its 10th anniversary on June 23 and 24, 2023. Religion Rugby will naturally be present at this event.
An exceptional gala dinner, an incredible auction including a signed jersey from Kylian Mbappé and works by Jean-Pierre Rives, a 7-a-side rugby tournament, and a legends match will punctuate these two exceptional days, along with many other surprises.
You can already reserve a table and/or register for the 7-a-side tournament.
We invite you to discover the program by clicking here
