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Antoine Dupont breaks silence on his Olympic Games sevens dream
By Willy Billiard
The opportunity was too good to pass up. As he received the double distinction of best Top 14 player (with his club Stade Toulousain) and best French international player at the Nuit du Rugby awards on Monday, Antoine Dupont could not avoid being asked about his forthcoming commitment with the France sevens team as he bids to compete in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
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Having come up short as France’s leader at Rugby World Cup 2023, Dupont is desperate to be involved in the next big rugby global event on his home soil and will look to use the new HSBC SVNS Series to adapt to the shorter, fast-paced format of the game.
“We have been trying for several months, with the club, the federation and France sevens, to give me the opportunity and the resources to try and take part in these Olympic Games. I now hope to perform well and apply (make selection),” he explained.
“We are going to have to make some adjustments. I’m not going to be able to play every match, every weekend, until the end of the season. I’m going to have to make sacrifices to spend time with this team and get used to this special game and discipline.”
The transition from 15s to sevens will not be easy. Bryan Habana tried and failed to make the Blitzboks team for Rio 2016, and while All Blacks superstar Sonny Bill Williams got to go to Rio, he did not have as big an impact as many anticipated.
Antoine Dupont and Michael Hooper are both set to take part in the newly revamped sevens series, SVNS ? #rugby #HSBCSVNS #rugby7s pic.twitter.com/qrNCZfCNw1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 16, 2023
Even Dupont, arguably the biggest box-office star in rugby right now, has his doubts. “When I see the effort that this discipline requires, it’s going to take me some time to adapt, that’s for sure,” he admitted.
His coach at Stade Toulousain, Ugo Mola, doesn’t seem particularly worried: “It seems that if he plays with the qualities he has, he could be a valuable addition to this competition,” he said. “We all want Antoine Dupont to win trophies, but the World Cup has slipped under his nose. Let’s hope he wins a few with his club and maybe even one with the French sevens team.”
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France automatically qualified for the Paris Games as hosts but they would have qualified as of right anyhow after a fourth-place finish in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 standings. It was their best finish to date on the series and reflects the growing strength of the team. Dupont knows he will only make the final cut on merit.
“Antoine has a very rugby attitude, he doesn’t want to be dropped in. He knows that, in a rugby team, you earn your place,” agreed Florian Grill, president of the Federation Francaise de Rugby.
“If he makes it to the Games – and he has said he wants to – he will be a superb headliner, even if we will have to do without him for the Six Nations tournament. But, honestly, what a great image for rugby sevens and for the country. He’ll be an important standard-bearer.”
The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has really fired Dupont’s imagination. “For any sports fan, the Olympics are still mythical. Hosting this event in France will be an incredible celebration, and to be in with a chance of winning an Olympic medal is a highly motivating challenge,” he said.
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To realise his goal, Dupont has had to adapt his schedule, but he insisted he will still feature for Stade Toulousain should they make the Top 14 play-offs. “I still have ambitions in 15s. I don’t want to retire from the sport just yet, don’t worry,” he said.
“I’ll be playing in the play-offs with Stade Toulousain, and I hope to be able to lift the Brennus Shield again. I can spend time with sevens but also keep my objectives with Stade Toulousain.”
- Click here for all the details about the new HSBC SVNS Series
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The writer here ignores the fact that, following on from not taking the penalty kick, the All Blacks did manage to score a try a few minutes later. Not directly from the penalty awarded, but it is speculation to say that had they opted to take the koi they would have won. Even if they kicked it, which was no guarantee, they would still be trailing and would have had to start again at half-way.
Go to commentsI would be surprised if Sales Opoku Fordjour and Northampton’s Tommy Freeman are not in the team, Anthony Watson is also one that could go on the wing. One thing I must say is that the front 3 will get destroyed against a team like South Africa.
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