Almost ten months after the tragic disappearance of Christophe Dominici, the village where he grew up, Solliès-Pont in the Var, had decided to pay tribute to him by creating a Festival in his name.
From Friday evening, the mayor of the town, André Garron, surrounded by Jeannot, Christophe's father, and Max Guazzini, Bernard Laporte and former teammates such as Fabien Galthié, Thomas Lombard and Diego Dominguez, with some blood glories Var (Christian Califano, André Herrero), or the city councilor of Toulon, Hubert Falco, launched this first edition at the Château de Solliès-Pont.
To discover
Calendar and results Top 14
“
When I heard of his death, I went to watch the matches we played together.
Endlessly.
"
Fabien Galthie
A ceremony rich in emotions, and a few laughs also at the evocation of the "
stupidities
" of Christophe Dominici, in which dozens of anonymous came to take part.
To show that he was always present in the hearts of those he had worked with.
“
When I heard of his death, I went to watch the matches we played together.
Endlessly.
I didn't realize that what he was doing on the pitch was incredible.
He was pulling us up because he was not afraid of anything
”, admitted the coach of the XV of France, Fabien Galthié.
Saturday morning, a new moment of contemplation and remembrance when the giant fresco representing him, balloon in hand, on a grandstand at the Solliès-Pont stadium is unveiled. “
Christophe will forever watch over the stadium of his debut,
explained Jean-Louis Lacroix, president of the Rugby Club of the Vallée du Gapeau, at the microphone of France Bleu.
Thanks to this painting, he will be forever remembered. Those of the oldest who knew him and who miss him. Those of the youngest who will discover it thanks to this image.
"
Some of the 1,200 kids, aged 6 to 14, who participated in the first edition of the “
Christophe Dominici Tournament
” posed in front of the large portrait. Tearing a few tears from his friends again. “
If Christophe saw all these kids… He would be able to spend twenty hours there to see them one by one, talk to them, pass them on. It was his element,
"said Var Matin Henri Mondino, president of the Sud Paca League, who was also his manager in Valletta during the debut of the future tricolor rugby star. "
This Festival will now take place every year in September to launch the season for small rugby players
", has, in passing, formalized the leader.
Continuation of tributes this Sunday. This morning, the Stade des Sénès, still in Solliès-Pont, will be renamed to become the "Complexe Sportif Christophe Dominici". And, in the early evening, before the Top 14 match between Toulon and Stade Français, his two favorite clubs, the supporters will honor the memory of the winger who died too soon at the Mayol stadium. The emotion will then certainly be at its peak.
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