Princess Charlene has once again placed rugby sevens at the heart of Monaco’s sporting calendar, as the Monaco Sevens made its debut on Friday, 1 May at Prince Jacques Stadium in Beausoleil. The event brought together royalty, rugby figures and invited guests for a packed day of action, but it was also shaped by a deeply emotional tribute to Christophe Dominici, the former French international winger whose legacy still resonates strongly in the sport.
For South African readers, the link is easy to spot. Princess Charlene, who hails from KwaZulu-Natal, has long kept a visible interest in rugby and sports development, and her appearance at the tournament once again underlined that connection. As President of the Monegasque Rugby Federation, she carried out the ceremonial kick-off for the Elite Men’s tournament, standing alongside Antoine Zeghdar, the Paris 2024 Olympic judo champion who serves as patron of the event and ambassador for her foundation.
The Princess was joined by familiar faces including Gareth Wittstock and motor enthusiast GMK, adding to the VIP flavour of a competition that was designed to celebrate rugby while building Monaco’s profile in the sport. But beyond the guest list, the bigger story was the launch of a fresh format in a country that has steadily built itself into a serious rugby sevens destination.
The inaugural Monaco Sevens featured 16 teams across two men’s divisions — Open and Elite — and one women’s draw. Clubs and select sides from Monaco, Italy, Poland, the United Arab Emirates and Georgia took part, turning the Beausoleil venue into a mini international stage. For a first edition, the turnout and the competition format pointed to clear ambition from the organisers.
The tournament was arranged by the Monegasque Rugby Federation and AS Monaco Rugby, with support from the Princess Charlene Foundation. That backing is significant. It speaks to a broader effort to use rugby as both a sporting platform and a development tool, something Princess Charlene has repeatedly championed in the Principality.
On the field, the women’s competition delivered some lively contests. Umusa recorded wins over the Italian and Georgian sides, but they were edged out by Poland, who ultimately lifted the women’s trophy. In the Open Men’s competition, the FMR team celebrated a memorable milestone by collecting the first trophy in its history on home turf, a result that will surely be remembered by local supporters.
The headline result, though, came in the Elite Men’s final, where Seventise produced a commanding performance to beat UAE Shaheen 35-14. It was a convincing win and a fitting finish to a day that had already delivered plenty of spectacle, intensity and symbolism.
After the final whistle, the Prince and Princess presented the trophy to the winners, reinforcing the event’s status as more than just another rugby tournament. It was a public show of support for the sport’s growth in Monaco, and a nod to the organisers’ bigger long-term vision.
Monaco Sevens gives Princess Charlene’s rugby vision a public stage
The launch of Monaco Sevens also reflected Princess Charlene’s steady commitment to rugby development in the Principality. For years, she has used her platform to support youth sport, athlete development and initiatives that connect Monaco with the wider international rugby community. This tournament now gives that ambition a new, high-profile showcase.
One of the key beneficiaries of that vision is Monaco Rugby Sevens, a professional club with Prince Albert II as honorary president. The club, which became 2022 French champions of the InExtenso SuperSevens, has a clear sporting target: to one day represent Monaco at the Olympic Games in rugby sevens. That is no small objective, but the launch of a tournament of this standard suggests the right foundations are being laid.
The day also carried a strong emotional current because of the tribute to Christophe Dominici. The former France star, who died in November 2020, remains one of rugby’s most admired figures. His daughters, Kiara and Mya, took part in the presentation of the awards for the best players, in the presence of their mother Loretta Denaro and Matthieu Lartot, one of the most recognisable voices in French rugby broadcasting.
That moment gave the tournament a deeper human edge. Rugby in France and Monaco has always been about more than results, and the organisers clearly understood the importance of honouring a player whose flair and spirit left a lasting imprint on the game.
There was also a notable South African angle to the coverage, with Princess Charlene once again appearing in a sporting setting tied to rugby’s values of discipline, teamwork and community. Her continued involvement in the sport is likely to remain of interest back home, especially as she keeps making appearances at major events in Monaco.
As we reported earlier in similar royal and sporting engagements, Princess Charlene has become a familiar presence when it comes to rugby-linked charity and development work. Monaco Sevens now adds another layer to that profile, blending elite competition, international participation and memorial recognition into a single event.
For Monaco, the first edition was a statement of intent. For the players, it was a chance to compete at a new level. And for the royal family, it was another opportunity to show support for a sport that continues to grow in relevance. With Princess Charlene, Prince Albert II, and the wider rugby community all in attendance, the debut of Monaco Sevens landed as both a sporting occasion and a symbolic one — and if the organisers have their way, this is only the beginning.