Ambassade de France en Nouvelle-Zélande

French Minister for Sport to Present gift to Canterbury’s Rugby Community

At 11.00am on Thursday 20 October at Rugby Park in Christchurch, visiting French Minister for Sports, Mr David Douillet, will officially present the sculpture L’enjeu (“At Stake”) to the Canterbury Rugby Union on behalf of the French association Les Amoureux du Rugby (Rugby Lovers).

The organisation, headed by Jean-François Tordo, former captain of the French XV-a-side Rugby Team, supported French sculptor, Laurence Bonnel, in creating this masterpiece as a gift to the Canterbury Rugby Union at the time of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The giant 2m30cm resin creation is also intended to pay homage to the residents of Christchurch and to illustrate the solidarity of les Amoureux du rugby for Canterbury’s rugby community.

During his stay in New Zealand, French Minister for Sports, David Douillet, who was in Auckland for the semi-final between France and Wales and who will be present at the 2011 Rugby World Cup final, is honoured to have the opportunity to show France’s ongoing support for the people of Canterbury.

Born in 1969, Mr David Douillet has previously held the roles of MP for the Yvelines département’s 12th district (west of Paris), and Associate Minister for French Nationals Living Abroad in Prime Minister François Fillon’s Government. He is very well qualified for his new ministerial portfolio because, as fans of martial arts will know, he has obtained great success in numerous international judo championships and has won three Olympic medals (gold in Sydney in 2000, gold in Atlanta in 1996, and bronze in Barcelona in 1992).

ENDS

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