The agenda of Antoine Dupont, crowned champion of France last Saturday against La Rochelle, promises to be very busy in the coming months. After the World Cup which arrives with the XV of France (September 8-October 28), the scrum half and captain of the Blues has, for a long time, announced that his dream is to participate in the Olympic Games with the French team in 7. “I understand that Antoine, at 26 and after three French championship titles, one European champion, a Grand Slam and I hope for a major World Cup, wants to do the Olympics in France. We will organize. But we will have to think, at some point, that he recovers and that he regenerates, ”said his manager Ugo Mola, in the columns of Midi Olympique.
The technician from Haut-Garonne expects, with the next Six Nations Tournament and his possible preparation to play 7, not to see his number 9 wearing the colors of Stade Toulousain much. “On a physical level, the 7 is unique. It’s another sport. With Antoine, Christophe Reigt and Jérôme Daret (manager and trainer of France 7, editor’s note), we discussed together. The Federation seems open, the League and our president too. All lights are green. But there are other details to settle which are not neutral since a large part of the remuneration of the players is provided by the clubs. On our side, we are about to live a half-season or a full season to do without him.
Just after the 22nd coronation of Toulouse, Saturday against Stade Rochelais, the new president of the French Rugby Federation, Florian Grill, positioned himself on the subject. “I’m totally for it,” he said on RTL. We are lucky to have the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024. If Antoine Dupont offers us his person to be our standard bearer and our torch, that would be great. And to add: “Didier Lacroix (Toulouse president) is for. We talked about it and he is OK on the subject. Case to follow.
