The terrain is marked. The red carpet rolled out under his feet. Antoine Dupont, as the French Rugby Federation made official on November 15, will now devote himself to the French sevens rugby team, this season at least, with the ultimate objective of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (26 July – August 11).
A wish that he had expressed even before the World Cup and the trauma of a premature elimination during the quarter-finals against the Springboks (29-28), on October 15. Fabien Galthié, the coach of the French XV, informed in advance, knows that he will have to do without his captain and scrum half (27 years old, 52 caps) for the Six Nations Tournament and that he will not find him before the fall tour in November 2024.
Dupont will juggle between Toulouse and rugby sevens
The coaches of the French Sevens team and the staff of Stade Toulouse have agreed in recent days on a program which will allow the flagship player of French rugby to juggle between the two disciplines throughout the season. “Today there is an extended group of which I am part, specified this Monday evening Antoine Dupont, just after receiving the trophies for best player in the Top 14 and best French international for the 2022-2023 season during the Night rugby organized by the National League. I will try to acclimatize as best I can, perform well and be able to participate in the Games. When we see the efforts that this requires, there will be a time of adaptation necessary. »
PODCAST. Antoine Dupont: despite the defeat, an “exemplary” captain
The best player in the world in 2021 will therefore begin his specific preparation with his new VII teammates at the beginning of January. “Above all, we were waiting for Antoine’s formal agreement to engage in this Olympic preparation and he gave it a few days ago,” underlined Jean-Marc Lhermet, vice-president of the FFR in charge of high level. Discussions took place to find out what could be the best solution in the interest of both parties: the French Sevens team and Stade Toulouse. »
Lhermet continues: “There is an agreement which financially regulates this agreement. Everything has been formalized. He will start at the start of the year to be ready as quickly as possible, then, if chosen from the team, participate in the Olympics. » Antoine Dupont could even be lined up for the next stage of the world circuit in Perth, Australia (January 26 to 28). He will then play his selection during the tournaments in Vancouver (February 23 to 25) and Los Angeles (March 2 to 3) but, given his qualities, his motivation and the enthusiasm he arouses, it is difficult to see him remaining at the wears the Olympics.
His injuries now behind him
“Having the opportunity to play in the Games is just huge,” rejoiced his teammate with the Blues, La Rochelle third row Grégory Alldritt, present at the NRL press conference. If he can do it, he should do it. We saw it when he returned to the field after the World Cup, he needed to play, he felt fit, he felt prepared. There’s no question, I hope it goes well for him. »
His injuries now seem far behind him. The maxillo-zygomatic fracture contracted in an impact during France – Namibia on September 21 in Marseille and operated on the next day in Toulouse is nothing more than an old scar. The disillusionment born from the elimination in the quarter-final also fades with time. Plunging as quickly as possible into the adventure of the French Sevens team, with the prospect of an Olympic title, is the best way to turn the page.
