Polynesian songs and haka of the XV of the Pacific, at the Bon-Encontre primary school, near Agen

In June, the academic inspectorate offered teachers in the Agen district an inter-school sports meeting linked to the Rugby World Cup, explains Cathy Marty, director of the Georges-Brassens school in Bon-Encontre. The “One school, one country” project took place in October 2023, over three days, at the Rabal stadium in Agen, involving no less than 3,000 students.

The 345 students from the Georges-Brassens school (13 classes) prepared during the first period to face their classmates from other schools through oval ball games. Jerseys, pennants and flags were made with the image of Japan and Scotland. And the students had the chance to meet Patrick Péchambert, rugby referee, to talk about his activity.

A twin town with a company of the 48th RT

The Bon-Encontre school has cultivated this relationship with rugby by recently welcoming players from XV of the Pacific. An event made possible following the meeting between Commander Jean-Paul Mansion, of the departmental military delegation, and the manager of the island team.

“Learning that the Pacific XV was training in Bon-Encontre,” says the school director, “the players were asked for a meeting with the students, which corresponded perfectly with our educational project. »
South West Regiment, land of rugby, the 48th RT (sponsored by Philippe Sella) is in fact the cradle of the famous Pacific XV. A loyalty pact unites the 48th RT with Agen and as part of the Army/Nation link, each of its companies is twinned with a commune in the urban area (including the 5th with Bon-Encontre).

“Pull your canoe out to sea”

On December 5, the children of the Georges-Brassens school were surprised to receive a military selection of rugby players from overseas lands (Polynesia, Walis and Futuna and New Caledonia) from the three armies as well as the gendarmerie.

This activity began with a choreography punctuated by a Polynesian ritual in good order by the forty athletes under the orders of their manager, Alexandre Filimoehala. L’arrival in the gymnasium bringing together the 345 students, eyes wide, elicited “ohs” and “ahs” before the players began the “Volunteer Tamarii”, a Tahitian song of the Pacific Battalion, explained the Defense correspondent of Bon-Encontre , Vivian Galabert.

The meeting continued with the XV setting up in front of this wise and respectful audience to begin a haka specific to the Pacific XV team: “Toho te vaka ki uta” (“Pull your canoe out to sea). ), giving rise to an immediate response with a haka prepared for a long time by the students as part of the 2023 Rugby World Cup project.

The conclusion goes to Cathy Marty, director of the Georges-Brassens primary school: “We chose to keep the surprise for a most impressive effect; students and adults were really delighted with this exceptional moment of exchange; it also continued in the classes with a question/answer exchange with the players. »