Forty-five children and teenagers gathered in Vicdessos, in the Ariège region of southwestern France, for the tenth edition of the Rugby Vacances Ariège camp, a week-long program combining rugby training with hiking, caving and canyoning.
Mornings usually began with music blasting and pillow fights led by camp counselors. But on Thursday, after an exhausting day of hiking, the U10 group turned the tables, storming the counselors' rooms for a morning revenge, the first time that had happened in the camp's ten-year history.
A Milestone Tenth Edition
The camp brought together 45 boys and girls from Ariège, the surrounding southwest region and the Paris area, under the direction of camp leader Pascal Amiel, head chef Bruno Beffara, known as "Ratatouille," and a team of counselors. Ugo, 13, said that at another camp he attended last year he had felt left out, but that this camp was great, with plenty of activities and everyone getting along. Robin, 14, attending for a fifth and final year, said it was hard to have to stop, adding that he knew no one at first but ended up returning every year, calling it real vacation time among rugby fanatics.
On Tuesday, Valentin Delpy, a player for Stade Toulousain, visited the camp to meet the children and sign autographs.
Wednesday marked the tenth anniversary with a demanding off-trail hike to the Étang d'Arbu lake. The group, including chef Beffara, crossed tall grass and ferns in intense heat, climbed steep terrain to reach a ridge with sweeping views, then descended to cool off in the lake's cold water. The day ended with a nighttime treasure hunt through the village of Vicdessos, guided by riddles set by the counselors.
Training and River Adventures
Thursday morning brought high-level training sessions. Older campers worked on ball release and passing under the guidance of Michel Lopez, a former French champion with Stade Toulousain, and Bastien Beffara, a former Stade Toulousain and Agen player now signed with Langon. Younger campers practiced three-on-two drills and post-contact play with counselors Théo and Baptiste.
In the afternoon, the U10 group went caving, the U14 group went canyoning, and the U12 group canoed on the Ariège River between Sinsat and Ussat. Two campers admitted that at first it was a struggle, paddling only in reverse, but said the group soon mastered the rapids after some technical advice. The descent ended with a 4.5-meter jump from a bridge. Dorian, one of the campers, said he did not want to jump but decided it was a unique opportunity, and was glad he went through with it.
A Visit From Clément Vergé
The week closed on Friday with sessions of Dévalkart and canyoning, followed by a visit from Clément Vergé, a Stade Toulousain player, who spent time with the children and showed them the Bouclier de Brennus, the trophy awarded to France's national rugby champions.
Parents arrived at the camp later that afternoon, joined by former campers and former counselors for a celebration with homemade burgers and grilled food. A planned fireworks display was canceled because of restrictions imposed by the local prefecture, though organizers said the children's excitement was undimmed.
After ten years, organizers said the Rugby Vacances Ariège camp continues to follow its formula: training players while helping to raise young men and women around the values of rugby and community life.
