Versailles charity tournament mixes dodgeball, rugby and belly slide weekend

Dodgeball will be one of the cleanest tests of the 7 Hearts Tournament’s big idea in Versailles: make sport open, mixed and easy to join, then turn that participation into money for charity. The 13th edition of the event is set for June 27-28 at Stade de Porchefontaine, with the weekend built around rugby, dodgeball and ventriglisse, better known as belly slide, all under one roof of fundraising.

The numbers tell the story. The 2026 booklet lists 1,000 participants, 220 volunteers, 9 beneficiary associations and a fundraising target of €130,000. It also says 25% of the volunteers are people with disabilities, which fits an event that the city of Versailles describes as family-friendly, festive and open to all. Across 12 editions, the tournament says it has raised €852,000 for charities, up from €722,000 across 11 editions in the previous booklet, a steady climb that gives this weekend a real charitable track record instead of the feel of a one-off exhibition.

Dodgeball lands in the middle of that mission with the clearest inclusive logic of any sport on the card. The tournament’s own page says the dodgeball competition has been part of the event since 2012, and that it brings together rugby and dodgeball teams from around France around a simple belief: a sports competition can change lives. It is also pitched for people who are not rugby players and still want to help raise funds, which makes it a natural fit for a weekend designed around mixed activity and accessibility rather than elite specialization. The dodgeball event is scheduled for June 27 at 2 p.m., and teams are asked to register in advance while raising €400 per team.

The rest of the weekend is built to keep that same energy moving. The belly-slide championships are set for June 27 at 6:30 p.m., with free on-site registration, while the broader program includes a men’s Sevens circuit stop, open men’s and women’s rugby, rugby five-a-side, inflatable attractions, face painting, board games, archery, baby rugby, food, barbecue and DJ sets on Saturday night. The official site names Isabelle Ithurburu, Henry Chavancy and Léo Barré as the tournament’s marraine and parrains, and says all profits go to charities. For Versailles, the formula is simple and durable: keep the sports varied, keep the entry points wide and keep the fundraising direct.