One more trophy on a shelf that is starting to bend under the weight of the distinctions. One more line on his list which is gradually taking on the appearance of an encyclopedia. A birthday present also a little late for this prodigy who juggles the oval ball like no one else on the planet. Antoine Dupont celebrated his 28th birthday, in fact, on November 15, the day before the success against the All Blacks (30-29), the high point of an autumn Grand Slam placed between the successes against Japan (52-12) and Argentina (37-23) last Friday where the captain of the XV of France was as always, exciting and determining.
But this time, it was for his brilliant escapade in rugby sevens that the Toulouse native was distinguished. This Sunday evening in Monaco, he was named the world’s best 7s player of the year by World Rugby, the international federation, ahead of the other finalists, his partner Aaron Grandidier and the Irishman Terry Kennedy. The scrum half, already voted best player of the year 2021 at XV, is the first in history to achieve this double, a coronation in both disciplines.
Antoine Dupont owes this first distinction to the Olympic title won this summer with the Blues at the Paris Olympics. The French rugby star, upgraded to 7 with a view to these home Games, signed a flamboyant final against Fiji, with two tries and a majestic breakthrough – one of the great moments of French sport this year – to offer an assist to Grandidier. The neophyte also contributed to the first victory of the French team on the world circuit for 19 years, with a title in Los Angeles, before victory in the final of the world circuit at the beginning of June in Madrid.
French and European champion at XV, Olympic champion at 7
Performances which did not prevent some protests. Santiago Gomez Cora, the Argentina coach, did not hide his anger when the list of nominees was revealed. “I don’t agree at all,” the Argentinian coach growled. He played two stages of the world tour (out of seven in the regular season), including one as a substitute. He played a total of 12 minutes in Vancouver and they put him on the roster. In Los Angeles he played a little longer and was named the tournament’s best player and so on. And now the player of the year. I think it’s too much and it’s a lack of respect. »
If the Argentine selection dominated the regular season, it failed during the two main meetings, notably during the Paris Games where it was dismissed in the quarter-final by… the French team (26-14), this that Gomez Cora may not have digested.
Crowned for his performances at 7, Antoine Dupont was not selected to compete for the title of best player in the world at 7 of the year 2024, paying for his voluntary absence during the Six Nations Tournament. His prowess in the European Cup where he led Stade Toulouse to the coronation at Tottenham against Leinster (31-22) on May 25, before giving him a double with the Brennus shield won in front of Bordeaux-Bègles on a score historic (59-3), were not enough to make it a possible candidate in the eyes of World Rugby. The Toulouse player will have to wait until 2025 for that.
