The Biarritz BOtés, the face of AXA’s “Femmes de Terrain” campaign, embody resilience in the Fédérale 2 final. Discover the stories of the women who serve as role models for women’s rugby.
Amateur rugby doesn't survive solely on grants or infrastructure. It survives thanks to the passion of the people who keep it alive.
The history of the BOtés, the women’s division of Biarritz Olympique, is proof of this. In 2014, the association Féminines Athlétiques Rugby (FAR) was founded. At the time, the project was spearheaded by Florian Mercader, now manager of the BOtés. His goal? To establish a structured women’s rugby program in the local area, at a time when the sport was still largely viewed as a spin-off of men’s rugby.
After starting out in the recreational division and spending three seasons wearing out their cleats on the rugby sevens circuit, the team reached a milestone in 2018. That year, it joined the Biarritz Olympique Amateur association to compete in rugby union. It was there that the identity of the “BOtés” took root. In 2020, the team reached another milestone by competing in the Fédérale 2 XV league. But to establish itself long-term, women’s rugby often has to work twice as hard as others. In June 2022, the verdict came down: following a change in leadership, the women’s division was expelled from the club. Where others might have given up, the BOtés chose to fight.
For two seasons, the players reclaimed their identity as the FAR and carried their team on their shoulders, operating completely independently. With no permanent fields and limited resources, they redoubled their efforts to find sponsors, negotiate training slots, and maintain the high standards of the Fédérale 2 division. It was a testament to their fight to defend women’s rugby.This determination paid off, as in 2024, the women won the Nouvelle-Aquitaine League championship title against Stade Rochelais, a testament to their resilience and remarkable teamwork. The women also made headlines by advancing to the quarterfinals of the French Women’s Rugby Championship.
Following this successful season, the team rejoined the amateur division of Biarritz Olympique, which was headed at the time by Serge Blanco. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in their history.
Today, the team embodies a model of unity. The girls didn’t just play together—they survived together. It is this strength of character, this solidarity, and this ambition that make the BOtés more than just a rugby team. They stand as a symbol of perseverance.
This Sunday, April 19, the BOtés will play in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine League final. After defending their title as Basque Country Sevens champions in 2025, they’re back at the top of the Fédérale 2. The team’s mindset? A mix of confident calm and electric tension. In the locker room, the group of fifty players is tight-knit. Each girl contributes, in her own way, to the strength of the team.
The entire staff supports the team on a daily basis and works to create the best possible conditions for peak performance. But on the field, it’s the players who will make the difference.
The pressure is mounting, but determination remains our sole driving force. Pantxika Duvert, prop and captain of the BOtés, sets the tone: “The team is focused and highly motivated as we approach the final. Of course, there’s a bit of pressure because the stakes are high, but we’re handling it well. We have a tight-knit group, ready and determined to give it our all to win! Sunday will be 80 minutes of battle, and we plan to savor every minute of it.”
The team remains focused following their qualification and is now looking ahead to the final, eager to give their best in Sunday’s match. “While the atmosphere tonight was fairly relaxed—we’re still riding high from qualifying—the tension is definitely building. We all want to play; we all want a happy ending; we’re all focused on our game plan and the tasks we need to accomplish for Sunday’s match, ” says Lisa Maurel, the team’s second-row forward .
Rugby is a battlefield—and not just for gaining ground. By becoming the faces of AXA’s national “Women on the Field” campaign, the BOtés are taking on a broader fight: the fight for visibility and recognition of women’s rugby. By agreeing to participate in the act for sport photo shoot, they are declaring loud and clear that their place is no longer up for negotiation. They aren’t asking for permission to exist. They are making their mark through the strength of the collective.
This project is not just a simple series of photos. Far from being mere clichés, these scenes reflect everyday life: a struggle that AXA supports through its campaign “Nothing Stops Women’s Rugby,” whether professional or amateur.The women of Biarritz prove that rugby is not a “men’s sport played by women.” It is a universal sport where the demands, the roughness of the hits, and the beauty of the game know no gender. They carry this message for all those who, at some point, were told they had no place on the field.
For these players, this spotlight reflects a genuine shift in attitudes. They aren’t trying to please anyone—they’ve earned their place. Every move they make on the field becomes a source of inspiration, so that no little girl will ever hesitate to lace up her cleats. Their goal? To hear this phrase more often:
“ I’d never seen a women’s rugby match before, but I loved it—I’ll be back.”
The BOtés embody this new generation of women who fully embrace their strength and technical skill. By joining the act for sport initiative, they remind us that rugby is an inclusive and demanding sport that belongs to those who play it with passion. On Sunday, in the final, they will be the faces of a sport that is gaining widespread recognition.
Their journey is proof of that. By becoming the face of AXA Femmes de Terrains, the BOtés are showing that determination is all that matters. Act for Sport applauds their dedication and hopes they’ll bring home the title on Sunday.
Nothing can stop women's rugby—and certainly not the BOtés.
Amateur rugby doesn't survive solely on grants or infrastructure. It survives thanks to the passion of the people who keep it alive.
The history of the BOtés, the women’s division of Biarritz Olympique, is proof of this. In 2014, the association Féminines Athlétiques Rugby (FAR) was founded. At the time, the project was spearheaded by Florian Mercader, now manager of the BOtés. His goal? To establish a structured women’s rugby program in the local area, at a time when the sport was still largely viewed as a spin-off of men’s rugby.
After starting out in the recreational division and spending three seasons wearing out their cleats on the rugby sevens circuit, the team reached a milestone in 2018. That year, it joined the Biarritz Olympique Amateur association to compete in rugby union. It was there that the identity of the “BOtés” took root. In 2020, the team reached another milestone by competing in the Fédérale 2 XV league. But to establish itself long-term, women’s rugby often has to work twice as hard as others. In June 2022, the verdict came down: following a change in leadership, the women’s division was expelled from the club. Where others might have given up, the BOtés chose to fight.
For two seasons, the players reclaimed their identity as the FAR and carried their team on their shoulders, operating completely independently. With no permanent fields and limited resources, they redoubled their efforts to find sponsors, negotiate training slots, and maintain the high standards of the Fédérale 2 division. It was a testament to their fight to defend women’s rugby.This determination paid off, as in 2024, the women won the Nouvelle-Aquitaine League championship title against Stade Rochelais, a testament to their resilience and remarkable teamwork. The women also made headlines by advancing to the quarterfinals of the French Women’s Rugby Championship.
Following this successful season, the team rejoined the amateur division of Biarritz Olympique, which was headed at the time by Serge Blanco. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in their history.
Today, the team embodies a model of unity. The girls didn’t just play together—they survived together. It is this strength of character, this solidarity, and this ambition that make the BOtés more than just a rugby team. They stand as a symbol of perseverance.
This Sunday, April 19, the BOtés will play in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine League final. After defending their title as Basque Country Sevens champions in 2025, they’re back at the top of the Fédérale 2. The team’s mindset? A mix of confident calm and electric tension. In the locker room, the group of fifty players is tight-knit. Each girl contributes, in her own way, to the strength of the team.
The entire staff supports the team on a daily basis and works to create the best possible conditions for peak performance. But on the field, it’s the players who will make the difference.
The pressure is mounting, but determination remains our sole driving force. Pantxika Duvert, prop and captain of the BOtés, sets the tone: “The team is focused and highly motivated as we approach the final. Of course, there’s a bit of pressure because the stakes are high, but we’re handling it well. We have a tight-knit group, ready and determined to give it our all to win! Sunday will be 80 minutes of battle, and we plan to savor every minute of it.”
The team remains focused following their qualification and is now looking ahead to the final, eager to give their best in Sunday’s match. “While the atmosphere tonight was fairly relaxed—we’re still riding high from qualifying—the tension is definitely building. We all want to play; we all want a happy ending; we’re all focused on our game plan and the tasks we need to accomplish for Sunday’s match, ” says Lisa Maurel, the team’s second-row forward .
Rugby is a battlefield—and not just for gaining ground. By becoming the faces of AXA’s national “Women on the Field” campaign, the BOtés are taking on a broader fight: the fight for visibility and recognition of women’s rugby. By agreeing to participate in the act for sport photo shoot, they are declaring loud and clear that their place is no longer up for negotiation. They aren’t asking for permission to exist. They are making their mark through the strength of the collective.
This project is not just a simple series of photos. Far from being mere clichés, these scenes reflect everyday life: a struggle that AXA supports through its campaign “Nothing Stops Women’s Rugby,” whether professional or amateur.The women of Biarritz prove that rugby is not a “men’s sport played by women.” It is a universal sport where the demands, the roughness of the hits, and the beauty of the game know no gender. They carry this message for all those who, at some point, were told they had no place on the field.
For these players, this spotlight reflects a genuine shift in attitudes. They aren’t trying to please anyone—they’ve earned their place. Every move they make on the field becomes a source of inspiration, so that no little girl will ever hesitate to lace up her cleats. Their goal? To hear this phrase more often:
“ I’d never seen a women’s rugby match before, but I loved it—I’ll be back.”
The BOtés embody this new generation of women who fully embrace their strength and technical skill. By joining the act for sport initiative, they remind us that rugby is an inclusive and demanding sport that belongs to those who play it with passion. On Sunday, in the final, they will be the faces of a sport that is gaining widespread recognition.
Their journey is proof of that. By becoming the face of AXA Femmes de Terrains, the BOtés are showing that determination is all that matters. Act for Sport applauds their dedication and hopes they’ll bring home the title on Sunday.
Nothing can stop women's rugby—and certainly not the BOtés.
