This winter sees a new competition coming to the Alps - snow rugby. Enter Le Tournoi des 6 Stations, which will take place during the rest period of the annual Six Nations tournament. Official website here, and the latest news, including captains of the teams, here.
Rugby is no stranger to the area. Tignes regularly hosts beach rugby competitions during the summer, and it is a favourite training camp for Stade Francais.
But this new competition, brainchild of @yanndelaige, will take place in the middle of winter, and indeed right in the middle of the French school holidays. It is a "new, fresh and original" concept, says Yann. A melange of slalom and rugby sevens is promised, and stars of rugby (including Marc & Thomas Lievremont, Serge Betson) and the ski slopes (Luc Alphand, Antoine Deneriaz) have signed up. Orangina and Peugeot have signed up too:
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| Press Conference in Paris, November 2012 |
The event takes place between 26 Feb and 3 March, with the final chapter taking place at La Clusaz apparently. The other participating resorts are La Plagne, Les Menuires, Courchevel, Valmorel and Chamonix.
One of the aims is to initiate people into rugby. Of the "Top 14", only Stade Francais and Racing Metro are located outside its southern heartlands, so presumably the idea is that the sport has quite a lot of untapped potential.
There's more background here in the official video of the press conference, which include a heroic photo shoot in front of the Arc de Triomphe.
What is worth a look is the official trailer, which shows you what playing rugby sevens with crampons is really like....
Alongside the website, you can follow developments Le Tournoi's Facebook Page.
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