The captain of the XV of France and Stade Toulousain should participate in the Paris Olympic Games in the summer of 2024. A choice that causes anger and incomprehension among certain fans.
There now seems to be no doubt whatsoever that Antoine Dupont will be part of the great ‘Paris 2024’ adventure. The captain of the France XV and Stade Toulousain world rugby star is keen to represent France at the next Olympic Games to be held in his country (July 27 – August 11).
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Paris 2024 Olympic Games: “Absurd”, “never considered”… The FFR denies that they want to use players other than Antoine Dupont for the Olympic Games
Discussions have been going on for weeks between the club “Rouge et Noir”, the French Federation and the National Rugby League. Because the presence of the Haut-Pyrénées among the rings is not so easy to organize: it involves a very specific investment upstream, preparatory meetings that could lead to the absence of Dupont during the 6 Nations Tournament 2024; but also an adaptation to Olympic rugby.
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Stade Toulousain: “We have prepared everything…” Will Antoine Dupont play at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris?
At the Olympic Games, the discipline is not played with 15, but with 7. However, these two are not practiced in exactly the same way. And it is precisely this point that seems to irritate certain followers, who believe that Dupont could arrive like a parachute in the VII of France, because of the fame he achieved with the XV.
“Let him stay in his place. Nice for the boys who have been bleeding in rugby sevens for years,” says a fan on this sport just because his name is Antoine Dupont…’ adds another.
Let him stay in place. Nice for boys who have been involved in rugby sevens for years
— Carlos (@CarlosDuLaos) November 14, 2023
Is he the best at rugby sevens? he shouldn’t have to take the place of a man better than him in this sport just because his name is Antoine Dupont…
— untrucadire (@itsmyavis) November 14, 2023
Another, more virulent, says: “It’s not normal. The man has a little tantrum to play seven-a-side for the Olympics and he will quietly take the place of a player who has been fighting for months, even years .” Participate…”
Another even says: “It’s a mistake because players who have been playing 7-a-side tournaments around the world for years are not going to play with someone who takes out a friend.”
It’s not normal, the guy has a little tantrum to play seven-on-seven for the Olympics and he’s going to quietly take the place of a player who has been fighting for months or even years to participate…
— Steeve (@steevemagueule) November 15, 2023
A mistake because players who have been playing 7-a-side tournaments around the world for years are not going to play with the one who eliminates a friend
— yzun khonzou (@khonzou) November 15, 2023
A position of which Antoine Dupont, his entourage, as well as the presidents of Stade Toulousain and the French Federation have already become aware. The scrum half has played since he was seven in his younger years. And the possibility of conducting several test matches with the VII of France before the Games is being studied. To get used to the 7-on-7 game again, but also not to give the other Blues of the VII the feeling of being parachuted in.
These test meetings could take place while the French XV’s 6 Nations Tournament is underway. Two stages of the world circuit will be held in Vancouver (23 to 25 February) and Los Angeles (2 and 3 March).