Event: Have dinner with rugby legends in Lyon while supporting our charity!

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The Serge Betsen Academy (SBA) has the pleasure to be the beneficiary of the dinner organized by the Comité de Rugby Rhône Métropole de Lyon (CD69). On this occasion, we will gather rugby enthusiasts in Lyon on the Thursday evening before the Top14 Semi-Finals.

A cocktail followed by a seated dinner with Serge Betsen and rugby legends is planned at Parc des Vallières on June 19. The objective of this event is to raise funds to improve the well-being of disadvantaged young people in Cameroon and Mali. The profits from the evening will go directly to the Serge Betsen Academy charity.

The Serge Betsen Academy needs the support of donors and partners to finance its programs and thus strengthen the social and professional integration of young people who do not see a future without the help of an association like ours.  We are counting on your presence on June 19!

Dinner date: Thursday June 19, 2025, at 7 p.m., before the Top 14 Semi-Finals at Groupama Stadium

Location: Le Parc des Vallières, 57 rue des Vallières, 69390 Vourles, Salle Amélia

The program will be as follows:

  • Cocktail,
  • Seated dinner with Serge Betsen and rugby legends,
  • Animation by Le Ballon Responsable (LBR) which recycles rugby balls into bags, wallets, …,
  • Testimonials and auctions,
  • Musical entertainment.

Please book a table to spend an evening of solidarity with your colleagues, clients and friends:

  • Table for 8 people: 1440 euros,
  • Table for 10 people: 1800 euros.

You can also register individually at the price of €180/person.

To support the event as a sponsor, have dinner with a rugby legend and benefit from great visibility, contact us!

SBA: contact@sergebetsenacademy.org & mailys@sergebetsenacademy.org / +34 605 11 20 75
CD69: michelcommeinhes@orange.fr & rugby-69@orange.fr / laure.follinarbelet@lfacoach.com /+33 672 28 37 67

 

 

Event: Join us in Toulouse for a SBA charity Dinner supported by Capgemini!

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The Serge Betsen Academy has the great pleasure of organizing a charity dinner in Toulouse on Monday April 28, a few days after the Toulouse – Castres Top 14 match. Serge Betsen, Trevor Brennan, Paul Costes, Omar Hasan, Yannick Jauzion, Marjorie Mayans and Gabrielle Vernier will welcome you during this special rugby evening. 

This second edition will be an opportunity to bring together rugby legends from the Toulouse region, our donors and partners and also to forge links with new companies wishing to discover our actions in Cameroon and Mali.

We have the immense privilege of counting on Capgemini as a sponsor of the event and we thank them for their support.

Please find below the practical information regarding our charity dinner:

Date: Monday April 28, from 7 p.m. (the day after or two days after the Toulouse-Castres match)
Location: La Brasserie du Stade Toulousain, 114 Rue des Troènes, 31200 Toulouse, France
Format: Cocktail, seated dinner with Serge Betsen and rugby legends, quiz and auction
Price: 200 euros per person, or 1600 euros for a table of 8 people and 2000 euros for a table of 10 people
Sponsorship packages available with benefits in terms of hospitality and logo exposure.

We hope you will be able to attend!

Please contact Maïlys Drouault to find out more about this event: mailys@sergebetsenacademy.org / +34 605 11 20 75.

 

Event: Six-Nations Pre-Crunch Dinner on 7th February in London!

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We are delighted to host a Six-Nations Pre-Crunch Dinner in London.

The dinner will be held on Friday 7th February, 2025 at 6:30pm at M Threadneedle Street, Unit 2 & 3, 60 Threadneedle St, London EC2R 8HG.

It will be a special evening with Serge Betsen and Rugby Legends, including a seated Dinner, a Quiz, Q&A and Auctions. The Legends will discuss, dispute and digest what’s been happening on the pitch and you will be able to ask them lots of questions.

The Serge Betsen Academy will spend the money raised to continue welcoming underprivileged children in general community centers to help the relief of poverty, sickness and distress as well the advancement of education and the development or rugby in Cameroon and in Mali.

We want to thank our sponsors for their support and we wish you all a very pleasant evening. Please note that we are currently fully-booked.

Event: A spectacular charity dinner on the famous revolving floor 34 of BT Tower in London on 28th March!

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On Thursday 28th March, we celebrated the Serge Betsen Academy 20th anniversary at the iconic BT Tower in London. We would like to thank our amazing guests for joining our fundraising celebrations. 

 

 
We are delighted to share with you that this event raised a staggering total of £40,260, and we are so truly grateful for the fantastic efforts of our guests on helping us to raise this amount.

 

 
All the money we raised will go directly to the Serge Betsen Academy (SBA) to continue welcoming underprivileged children in their general community centres to help the relief of poverty, sickness and distress as well as the advancement of education and the development of rugby in Cameroon and Mali.
 

 

We would like to thank Shirley Pinder for organizing this perfect event, the legends Mark Foster, Leon Lloyd, Joe Worsley, Victor Ubogu and Jeremy Chardy for their availability, Peter Scrivener for being an amazing MC, our sponsor Benoit Verbrugghe for his generosity, and all our guests for their support of the Serge Betsen Academy 20th Anniversary fundraising celebrations at the BT Tower.
 

 

More than ever this 20th anniversary shows us that the recipe of team sport, education and healthcare is the magic formula to have a real impact on the life of our children. We are already making real progress:
  • Over the last 20 years, the Serge Betsen Academy has created five centres in Cameroon and one in Mali and 6 infirmaries
  • Supported 9000 underprivileged children, distributed 14650 meals
  • Made 1080 medical consultations (in 2023) in our infirmaries,
  • Organised 4 inter-centre tournaments and 3 inter-school tournaments
  • Built 3 water towers, 5 water wells, installed 16 solar panels,…
 

 

The next 20 years, we want our centres to be more autonomous and we want to help and support our children on the long run to achieve their professional dream.
 

 

For now thank you once again for your support.

 

 
 
 

2024: An Olympic and festive year for the Serge Betsen Academy!

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The Serge Betsen Academy (SBA) will celebrate its 20th anniversary in March 2024 and on this occasion we will be organising various events to celebrate our actions and to introduce our plans for the future. 20 years old is a golden age when one has lots of energy, and it’s perfect because we have many plans.

 

Over 20 years, the Serge Betsen Academy has supported more than 9,000 disadvantaged children both in Cameroon and Mali, using rugby as a vector of social integration. The mission of the association created by Serge Betsen, former international rugby player, is to give them access to after-school academic support sessions, medical care, meals and rugby training. It is thanks to the generosity of our partners and donors that the SBA has been able to create six centres over the last 20 years and that it has had such a positive impact on the lives of its young people through its various programs.

 

Serge Betsen and the entire association would like to invite you to discover our events (see below) and to contact us would you wish to participate in them and to turn these events into unforgettable moments, in support of our children!

 

– Match Biarritz Olympique V Rouen Normandie Rugby

Date & Venue: Friday February 16, 7:30 p.m., Parc des Sports Aguilera, Biarritz

Match dedicated to the Serge Betsen Academy association

Kick-off by Serge Betsen

 

– Dinner for the 20th anniversary of the Serge Betsen Academy in Lyon

Date & Venue: Friday March 15, 7 p.m., Grand Refectory of the Grand Hôtel Dieu in Lyon

A dinner with 200 guests among sports legends, in a beautiful venue, on the eve of the France-England game of the Six Nations. Cocktail, seated dinner, auctions and musical entertainment will be on the menu!

Details here.

 

 

– Rugby & Art: evening of emotions near Lille

Date & Venue: Thursday March 21, 6 p.m. in Marcq-en-Barœul France (59)

An extraordinary evening organised by Thetechicy, combining artistic expression through contemporary art and the passion for rugby, with the Serge Betsen Academy. On this occasion an auction will be organised, selling 40 works of art. Part of the sales will be donated to the association. This event will be dedicated to art lovers, sports enthusiasts and charitable spirits!

Details here.

 

 

– Gala match: Football – Variétés Club de France vs Serge Betsen’s team

Date & Venue: Saturday March 23, 2024, 2 p.m., Stade Nelson Paillou – 2 Rue Jean Walter, 92110 Clichy

Program: Football match between the Variétés Club de France and Serge Betsen’s team, made up of sports legends, physiotherapists and masseurs (OKM) and football players from the Clichy club (USAC). To be followed by a cocktail-party at 4 p.m.

For the benefit of the Serge Betsen Academy

 

– Gourmet dinner in a secret place in London to support the Serge Betsen Academy and to celebrate Paris 2024

Date & Venue: Thursday March 28 at 6 p.m., London

This will be a spectacular evening, during which a sumptuous 3-course dinner will be served to you in a legendary building in London, where musical entertainment will enhance your evening, where special guests will make it unforgettable and where various fundraising activities will take place for the benefit of our association.

Please email mailys@sergebetsenacademy.org for further details

 

– Women’s and men’s rugby and basketball tournament, Yaoundé & Douala, Cameroon

Date & Venue: 10-13 April (TBC), Yaoundé and Douala, Cameroon

A tournament to enable young people to compete against each other while playing rugby. This event organised at the initiative of the French Embassy in Cameroon will bring together different charities, including the Serge Betsen Academy and will be an opportunity to talk about important themes related to sports, health and gender equality. There will also be an initiation to rugby and basketball.

 

– Dinner to celebrate the 20th anniversary of SBA Cameroon, in Yaoundé

Date & Venue: Thursday May 30, 6 p.m., Boun’s Hotel, Yaoundé, Cameroon

We will gather with the SBA team members and our faithful partners to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the charity and raise funds for our future projects. A delicious buffet will be served and there will be various entertainments.

 

We look forward to welcoming you soon to celebrate our 20th anniversary! 

 

Translation : Katy Birgé-Wilson

 

Event: Special World Cup Legends’ Dinner, September 11, 2023, Toulouse

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The evening before the WRC France vs Namibia match, a Legends dinner was organised by Karim Ben Amar and the team of his Escale Borely at Sport Beach, Marseille. It was a fund raising initiative, as 100% of the profits from the evening were to be donated to the Serge Betsen Academy.We would like to thank all our guests who attended this dinner and also the rugby initiation led, during the afternoon, by Serge Betsen himself for the young people of the Stade Marseillais Université Club (SMUC). It was a pleasure to share this moment with the legends: Yann Delaigue, Marc Andreu, Sebastien Bruno, Bakary Meïté, John Tuilakepa and Virginie La Porta, as well as all those who were present for the Legends match the next day.

Thanks to Karim BEN AMAR and his Escale Borely team for the organisation as well as to Romain Canuti, at the Sport Beach restaurant and Alain Michaud Bonnet for their welcome, to Stéphane Tollet from the SMUC, to the Association of Traders of the Escale Borély, to Oxyne, Kaporal and Château d’Astros, Ovale Beach Rugby Five Marseille, as well as TotalEnergies for their support.

 

Translation : Katy Birgé-Wilson

Event: David Ellis Jubilee Match, French Legends vs XIII Mondial

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David Ellis will be celebrating his jubilee, in a unique approach alternating the rules of XIII and XV, League and Union, in the shape of a Gala match between several generations of stars of the Oval ball.

Come along on October 12 at 5 p.m. in Prades (66) to attend this unique match between the French Legends and the XIII Mondial Rugby League Cares. The profits will be donated to two associations dear to the players’ hearts: the Serge Betsen Academy and Handi Move & Fun.

A big thank you to David Ellis, Ellis Rugby, JOP Conflent Canigou – Prades, Prades Town Hall, Rugby League Cares and French Legends for this collaboration.

Among the French Legends, you will be able to support: Julien Bonnaire, Jérémy Castex, Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, Guilhem Guirado and Thomas Lièvremont.

As for the XIII World team, to date, are already registered: Gareth Ellis, Adrian Morley, Lee Radford, Keith Senior and from Wales, Andy Bateman, Kevin Ellis and Clive Griffiths.

There will also be an auction where cult items from the world and history of Rugby will be sold and then a reception will close the party.

You can support the event by making a donation on this platform. You can get your tickets on location at the JOPCC, Jeunesse Olympique Pradéenne Conflent Canigou (price: €12, free for children under 12).

For more information on the event, please contact: Jean-Pierre Respaut JOPCC: jeanpierrerespaut@orange.fror mobile 00 33 7 85 27 65 82

 

Translation : Katy Birgé-Wilson

 

Event: Rugby on the Roof at the Boun’s in Yaoundé for the opening match of the World Cup!

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The Boun’s Hotel in Yaoundé invites you to come to its rooftop and watch France – New Zealand, the opening match of the World Cup.

An introduction-video to the match will be produced by Serge Betsen for the guests and projected on the big screen on the rooftop. So, even if at that precise time, Serge Betsen will be at the Stade de France cheering on “Les Bleus”, he will also, thanks to this video, be with all the guests in Yaoundé, sharing the moment.

H.E. Thierry Marchand, Ambassador of France to Cameroon, together with his team, will honour us with his presence. Representatives of the Serge Betsen Academy Cameroon will also be present on the rooftop introducing the association and hosting a raffle; the profits will be donated to the association. The Boun’s will also provide, at low prices for the guests, a barbecue and drinks.

So come along to the Boun’s, we’ll see you around 6 p.m. (Cameroon time) on the rooftop. We’ll enjoy the activities put on by the Hotel and our association, and of course we’ll support “Les Bleus” from 8 p.m.

Raffle tickets will be on sale from 6:30 p.m. at the entrance to the rooftop. See Douglas, coordinator of the Serge Betsen Academy to buy your tickets. The prize to be won: a Biarritz Olympique jersey signed by Serge Betsen himself!

We will draw the winner and hold the prize-giving ceremony at half-time. The signed shirt will be handed over by the Ambassador of France in Cameroon to the winner.

Here is the address of Boun’s Hotel: Downtown _Rue De Narvick- Carrefour S. H.O adjacent the Bricolux store, Yaoundé, Cameroon

A big thank you to Benjamin Pion and Betty from the Boun’s Hôtel in Yaoundé for their welcome, and also to the French Embassy in Cameroon, our wonderful representatives, Philippe Poulleau and Philippe Huart, the UFE, Yaoundé Ovalie, PLAYCE Yaoundé and Beverages from Cameroon for their support.

During the evening, we will tell you more about the Corporate Rugby Tournament that we will organise in Yaoundé on Saturday 14 October, in the morning. You will have the opportunity to register in advance for this.

 

 

Translation by Katy Birge-Wilson.

Event: Conference with Serge Betsen in La Baule, 11 October 2023.

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You are kindly invited to attend a conference given by Serge Betsen on Wednesday 11 October in La Baule-Escoublac. This will be an opportunity for Serge Betsen to narrate his exceptional journey from his birth in Kumba in Cameroon until this Rugby World Cup in 2023. Here is the practical information: Conference by Serge Betsen on the theme “From Cameroon to the Rugby World Cup”.

 

🗓 Wednesday, 11 October 2023, from 6 p.m.

📍 Salle des Floralies, Avenue des Floralies, La Baule-Escoublac

❤ Free entry

 

This event is organized by the Rotary Pornichet Saint-Nazaire Atlantique with the support of the Rotary Club La Baule and the Town Hall of La Baule-Escoublac, to which we say a massive thank you. The profits will be entirely donated to the Serge Betsen Academy.

 

Program:

  • Introduction by Franck Louvrier, Mayor of La Baule and Christine Gourraud, President of the Rotary Pornichet Saint-Nazaire Atlantique
  • Thank you message to the sponsors by Vincent Belliard of the Rotary Pornichet Saint-Nazaire Atlantique
  • Conference by Serge Betsen, “From Cameroon to the Rugby World Cup”,
  • Q&A and tombola
  • Auction
  • Cocktail offered by Maison Loïc
  • Dinner at La Barbade with the Main Sponsor.

 

Come and celebrate the Rugby World Cup! Partnership opportunities are available. You can consult the partnership offers via this document (click here).

 

RSVP: rcpornichetstnazaireatlantique@gmail.com

Info: mailys@sergebetsenacademy.org

 

 

Translation by Katy Birgé-Wilson

Event: Legends’ Dinner, September 11, 2023, Toulouse

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Serge Betsen and the entire team of the Serge Betsen Academy association are organising “a Legends Dinner” on Monday, 11 September 2023 from 7 p.m., at the Brennan’s Snug Bar in Seilh (31).

This event will be an opportunity to celebrate the values of rugby, the association’s 20th anniversary and to discuss the Rugby World Cup, with passion, with rugby legends.

Surprise guests from the world of rugby including Yannick Jauzion, Trevor Brennan, Patrick Tabacco and Omar Hasan will be joining Serge Betsen for this occasion,. We will have various speakers during the dinner and also a quiz, an introduction to our association, a Q&A and auctions.

The profits from the evening will be entirely donated to the Serge Betsen Academy (SBA) association.

We look forward to spending this evening with Toulouse-based businesses and local rugby fans who support our mission and contribute to the well-being of the SBA children and families.

The contribution for this dinner is 120 Euros / person (i.e. 40.8 or 48 Euros after taxes). You can also sponsor the event as a company and benefit from invitations and various rewards. You will find all our partnership proposals on this document (click here).

The money collected during the evening shall be used to finance the studies of our SBA students, to purchase school supplies or for the creation of a poultry farm for our women of the SBA Coop, our cooperative.

 

To register for the event and buy your tickets, please send an email to sylvie@sergebetsenacademy.org or mailys@sergebetsenacademy.org.

 

Translation by Katy Birge-Wilson