It will become difficult not to link the success of this French team with the presence of Antoine Dupont. Three months after winning in Los Angeles nineteen years after its last coronation, the French men’s rugby sevens team won the Madrid tournament on Sunday evening, dominating Argentina in the final (19-5). A trophy which also allows him to win the world circuit of the discipline for the first time in its history.
The Tricolores took their revenge on the Pumas Seven who had dominated them the day before (26-12) during their second group match on this Civitas Metropolitano lawn. Jérôme Daret’s men then snatched their qualification against Great Britain on Saturday (17-12), a match punctuated by a superb solo try from the Stade Toulouse star. Before winning on Sunday noon in the semi-final against the double Fijian Olympic champions (21-14) then dominating the best team of the regular season in the evening.
A meeting where the Tricolores first conceded the first try, before disgusting their opponents, particularly in the defensive impact. An area where Antoine Dupont distinguished himself in addition to signing an assist for his captain Paulin Riva.
Excellent integration for Dupont
Less than two months before the Olympic Games which they will launch two days before the opening ceremony on Wednesday July 24, the Blues of rugby 7 are giving even more credence to their ambition for Olympic gold. This Madrid tournament concludes a cycle of five meetings with the world elite where they have reached at least the last four on four occasions, with three finals in total including two coronations.
Antoine Dupont, whose personal record in the discipline now stands at two gold medals and one bronze for his debut in Vancouver, also confirmed during the trip to Spain his express integration into this group. A week after a grueling Champions Cup final, the scrum-half played the role of luxury substitute. “Toto” established himself in the world of rugby sevens. Before perhaps heading towards the Olympic title.
