- Without resources in this period of coronavirus, the Eight launched a kitty on the Internet, in the form of a call for help.
- The emblematic supporters club of Stade Toulousain had already collected this Wednesday morning nearly 10,500 euros.
This kitty on Leetchi, the Eight launched it “in desperation”, as Jean-Marc Arnaud (55) indicates, historical president of the emblematic group of supporters of Stade Toulousain, born in 1996. Less d 'a week after its opening, the sum collected already amounted this Wednesday morning to 10,500 euros. Current or former stadists, but also many anonymous contributors to this success, like that of the kitty launched by the players for the benefit of the city hospitals (83,000 euros collected).
Like almost all sectors of the economy, the world of rugby is shaken by the coronavirus crisis. But clubs are therefore not the only ones concerned. Thus, the Eight and its 360 members, with its Aveyron and Paris sections, also found themselves in "the galley", to use the words of its leader.
Help the Eight to survive https://t.co/khXY48GTJN
- Le Huit (@LeHuit_ST) April 17, 2020"Between March and the end of the season, this is the period when we bring in the most money," observes Jean-Marc Arnaud, who also works in the construction industry and is currently on partial unemployment. Spring, with these final stages, is the blessed season of rugby. But this year, sport in fine weather comes down to TV reruns.
This very expensive local
Goodbye cleaver matches, such as the quarter-final of the European Cup at the Stadium against Ulster and a possible play-off in the Top 14. Meetings that would have allowed the Eight to organize meals in the premises it rents five minutes walk from the Ernest-Wallon stadium, charter buses to go and support the Rouge et Noir outside, without forgetting to sell some "goodies" (jerseys, among others) in the process.
The receipts have disappeared but the charges (almost 2,500 euros per month) remain like those linked to the clubhouse, on the edge of the lateral canal in the Garonne. Already not crazy, because of Top 14 - World Cup duplicates which depreciated the start of the championship, the season turned into a nightmare, after a dreamy 2018-2019 exercise, concluded by a twentieth Shield of Brennus.
"At the start of confinement, we could have hoped that there would be one or two events to bring in at least" three francs-six sous ", but we quickly realized that this would not be possible". Jean-Marc Arnaud has no illusions about a hypothetical resumption of the season, agitated by certain thinking heads of French rugby: “By September, at least, there will be no money coming in. "
Solidarity, materialized by the success of this kitty, will allow the Eight to hold out until then. And after ? If the Top 14 is slow to resume, memberships to the Eight (25 euros per year) will inevitably suffer, as the finances of the Red and Black. It would take more to extinguish the flame of Jean-Marc Arnaud. "Even if Stade Toulousain is tough next season, it can count on its supporters," he said.
Sport
Coronavirus: Stop or again? OJ in 2021 or not? Athletes face the retirement dilemma
Sport
Stade Toulousain: Jean Bouilhou returns to the staff, Régis Sonnes leaves
- Coronavirus
- Support
- Toulousain stadium
- Rugby
- Sport
- Toulouse