A group of young players from the Monegasque Rugby Federation visited Monaco’s Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA) to donate a much-needed piece of machinery to the animal shelter, on 26 October 2026. The sixteen young athletes presented the SPA with a motorized wheelbarrow, which will help the shelter improve the outdoor spaces used for walking dogs.
The donation was made in the presence of Gareth Wittstock, Princess Charlene’s brother (Princess Charlene is the President of Monaco’s SPA, and the President of the Monegasque Rugby Federation) and Thierry Danthez, Vice President of the Monegasque Rugby Federation. The young rugby players also toured the shelter and met the animals.
Monaco Qualifies for the 2027 European Games
For the first time in its history, the Monegasque rugby sevens selection will participate in the 4th European Games which will take place in Istanbul from 16 to 27 June 2027. The qualification comes after an exceptional season for Monaco’s rugby team. Princess Charlene unveiled the news during her presentation of the Monegasque Rugby Federation’s 2026-2027 season.
“This is also what sport is: it gives a small country a voice that carries far and wide and shows the next generation what is possible to accomplish when passion meets patience,” said Princess Charlene during the presentation.
The qualification for the European Games was obtained by the Monegasque national team during the last European Trophy Championship. At the end of the two stages of the competition last June, the Monegasques rose to 4th place in the general ranking of the second division. Today, the team is among the 16 best European rugby sevens nations.
A first for Monegasque sport!
Organized every four years, the European Games bring together nearly 50 countries and 7,500 athletes across thirty disciplines. It also opens a possible path to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The participation of the Monegasque Rugby Federation team is historic: never before has a Monegasque team taken part in the European Games in a team sport.
