Superstar Antoine Dupont set to make Toulouse return after Olympic Games success
Antoine Dupont celebrates France's successful sevens campaign at the Olympics and in action for Toulouse.
After being part of France’s triumphant sevens squad at the Olympic Games in Paris earlier this year, star scrum-half Antoine Dupont is back at training with his club Toulouse.
The 27-year-old helped Les Rouge et Noir to a Top 14 and Champions Cup double last season and spent time away from the 15-a-side game to inspire France to a gold medal in the Olympic Rugby Sevens competition, this after being part of his country’s squad that won the World Rugby SVNS Series.
However, Dupont returned to training with Toulouse on Monday and is in line to make his return to action at club level when the champions host Clermont-Auvergne at Stade Ernest-Wallon on Saturday.
Toulouse issued an update on various players on their official Twitter page and confirmed that Dupont will be available for selection against Clermont.
‘In good shape’
“Antoine Dupont is back in training after his vacation and is in good shape. He could even play against Clermont this weekend,” read the statement.
“Romain Ntamack and Ange Capuozzo, left to rest last week, are back.
“Juan Cruz Mallia, back from the Rugby Championship with Argentina, is also operational.
“Cyril Baille (ankle), Nepo Laulala (Achilles tendon), Santiago Chocobares (knee), Valentin Delpy and Kalvin Gourgues are still in the infirmary.
“Jack Willis and Alban Placines had light runs, while Mathis Castro-Ferreira, recently operated on for a sinus fracture, is not yet ready for a place in the squad.
“Thomas Ramos, who has played all the matches since the start of the season, benefited from a day of rest this Monday.”
Les Rouge et Noir have made a slow start to the 2024/25 Top 14 campaign and are currently in fifth position in the standings – after five rounds of action – three points adrift of table-toppers Bordeaux-Bègles.
Also eyeing a Test return
Dupont’s return to the 15-a-side game will put him in line for a Test rugby comeback with France, who kick off their end-of-year campaign against Japan on November 9, before facing New Zealand a week later and Argentina on November 22.
After helping Les Bleus to victory during the sevens competition at the Olympics, Dupont took a post-Olympic break.
He spent more than a week in the United States meeting legendary Argentina football star Lionel Messi in Miami as well as NBA legend LeBron James in California and visited the Los Angeles Chargers’ NFL team.
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