RWC2023

Ovale Citoyen and Proman united with France 2023 to help statutory refugees

On 20 June 2023, to mark World Refugee Day, France 2023, Ovale Citoyen and Proman, Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2023, announced the results of the 15 job dating sessions organised since July 2022 and presented their legacy programme.

MORE THAN 550 STATUTORY REFUGEES INVOLVED

The aim of the programme, initiated by the France 2023 Organising Committee and Ovale Citoyen association, is to help recognised refugees integrate into French society, as well as find employment. The programme has received the help of the Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration (OFII) and the support of PROMAN and France Pare-Brise.

After its launch during Rugby Africa Cup 2022, seven job-dating sessions were organised as part of the Rugby Villages held during the France 2023 Rugby Tour, and seven more were held in 2023, alongside previews of the film Pour l'Honneur in the host cities of Rugby World Cup 2023. As well as taking part in rugby activities to promote social interaction, each participant was offered an individual interview in order to find either a paid training, a fixed-term contract of more than 6 months or a permanent contract.

In total, 559 recognised refugees from over 15 countries benefited from this programme. 197 found a job through the job datings, in particular through France 2023’s sofficial sponsors, suppliers and supporters,, 95 found an apprenticeship and 72 are currently engaged in a recruitment process. 195 of them are still being supervised by Ovale Citoyen to further their employability.

A CONCRETE LEGACY AFTER THE COMPETITION

Committed to inclusion and accessibility programmes, France 2023 and Ovale Citoyen aim to leave a legacy to this project and to society after the competition’s final whistle, to enable the inclusion of socially excluded groups and the professional integration of refugees in France through rugby. Proman, Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2023, helps to make this ambition a reality by joining forces with Ovale Citoyen and the SOS Solidarités group through a joint agreement designed to ensure the long-term future of the France 2023’s Refugees programme.

The agreement will link Proman agencies to the SOS Solidarités group, automating the feedback statutory refugees profiles, in order to facilitate the process and put them in touch with suitable job opportunities as quickly as possible.

Jacques RIVOAL, President of France 2023: "Since the launch of our ambitious CSR strategy and its numerous projects, we have expressed our desire to acknowledge society's current challenges, by constructing sustainable programmes and presenting concrete proof of our commitments. This has now been achieved, thanks both to the results of the job-dating sessions deployed in2022 and 2023 throughout the country, and through our collaboration with Ovale Citoyen, Proman and the SOS group, which will continue this wonderful adventure beyond Rugby World Cup 2023, demonstrating the positive impact that an international sporting events can have on and off the pitch"

Gaëlle Tellier, Executive Vice-President of SOS Group: "The social inclusion and professional integration of refugees is part of the DNA of the SOS Solidarités Group. With 3,700 accommodation places, over 10,000 beneficiaries and 40 services dedicated to people in exile, our Group is a major player in the integration of refugees. Thanks to our network of associations, we are able to roll out numerous programmes that use sport as a vector of cohesion and inclusion: it is an important tool in these sometimes long and difficult processes. France 2023's involvement, invaluable help and commitment have enabled us to sign an agreement with PROMAN. This agreement will continue beyond Rugby World Cup 2023, proving that major sporting events have an undeniable social role to play!”

Jeff Puech, CEO of Ovale Citoyen, a SOS Solidarités association: "Ovale Citoyen was set up almost 5 years ago to provide support for people in exile. This programme, built with France 2023, has been an extraordinary human adventure. The contribution of France 2023 and its partners has made this project fully operational: the results are a proof of that. We salute the commitment of the CSR teams, who have made Rugby World Cup 2023 the first global event to set up a specific programme in favor of statutory refugees. The notion of legacy is often over-used: thanks to PROMAN, we are dealing with a concrete reality.”

Roland GOMEZ, Chairman of PROMAN: "At PROMAN, we're convinced that diversity is an asset for companies! This collaboration marks an important step, reinforcing our commitment to inclusion and professional integration. We offer concrete solutions and essential support to help these people rebuild their lives."