Commitment and social inclusion: Racing 92 honored for its adaptive rugby program

The French National Rugby League (LNR) recently used the prestigious Nuit du Rugby awards ceremony to present its Social Engagement Trophy to Racing 92 in recognition for the club’s adaptive rugby program. Natixis, a longstanding partner and official sponsor of the club, shares this sense of pride and reaffirms its commitment to making sporting practices more socially inclusive.

Natixis: supporting the Racing 92 rugby club since 2007

In its capacity as Official Sponsor of Racing 92, Natixis has backed the Hauts-de-Seine rugby club for nearly 20 years,helping it to achieve its sporting, educational, and social goals. This partnership is founded on three deep-rooted convictions:

• staying true to its commitment and a set of shared values since 2007;
• developing young talent;
• putting people first by promoting women’s participation in the sport, a major challenge for businesses and elite sports alike.
  

Today, Natixis supports all the teams in the Hauts-de-Seine club, along with its academy and two rugby schools, as well as its commitment to adaptive rugby. Natixis also asserts its ambition to bring rugby to as many people as possible and to promote the sport more widely.

Major recognition for adaptive rugby

Launched in November 2023 in close collaboration with ARESSIF (Association pour le Regroupement des Établissements Spécialisés pour le Sport en Île-de-France or ‘Association of Specialized Sports Centers in the Greater Paris Region’), Racing 92’s adaptive rugby project makes a tangible contribution to inclusion, diversity, and social cohesion.

Every week, in the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine département, the program welcomes some 40 participants from specialized institutions (IME, ITEP, ESAT). Guided by enthusiastic instructors, students, and dedicated volunteers, the participants are introduced to the different aspects of the game (touch rugby, tackling) using teaching methods tailored to each individual’s learning abilities.

This award from the LNR marks another key milestone for the program, which had already been honored at the Trophées Sport & Management ceremony at the French National Assembly. It recognizes the day-to-day dedication of all the teams working to make sport accessible to everyone.