Antoine Dupont, born on November 15, 1996, in Lannemezan, France, is a professional rugby union player known for his exceptional skills as a scrum-half. With a career that has unfolded on the stages of top French clubs and the international rugby scene, Dupont has established himself as one of France’s and the sport’s greatest ever players.
Dupont has been playing rugby since the age of four, but didn’t begin his professional career until 2014 when he joined Castres Olympique. His early performances showcased a player of immense potential, catching the attention of rugby enthusiasts and experts alike. The dynamic nature of his play, coupled with his strategic prowess on the field, hinted at a promising future.
A significant turning point in Antoine Dupont’s career came in 2017 when he made a high-profile move to Toulouse, one of the most prestigious rugby clubs in France. This transition marked the next phase of his development, and it wasn’t long before he became a linchpin for Toulouse, contributing significantly to the team’s successes, such as winning the European Rugby Champions Cup in 2021.
Dupont first donned the French national jersey in 2016 for the U20s team, and a year later he was selected for France’s first team in the 2017 Six Nations Tournament. His international career culminated in 2022 with being named stand-in captain and led to France winning a Six Nations grand slam victory – the first time they had replicated this feat since 2010.
Dupont’s performances in these tournaments highlights his remarkable speed, agility, and playmaking abilities, making him a standout player on the global rugby stage. And it’s no surprise to learn that over the years he has garnered several awards and accolades including Six Nations Player of the Championship title three times in 2020, 2022, and 2023. In 2021, he was also recognised as the European Professional Club Rugby Player of the Year. However, the height of Dupont’s playing recognition came when he was named World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year in 2021.
Off the pitch, Dupont, alongside his brother Clément, invested in a rural estate in their childhood village, renovating it as an event’s venue. Fluent in both French and English, he has had some commercial success with endorsements and ambassadorships with major brands such as Adidas, Peugeot, Volvic, and others. He also has a successful academic career with science and sports-based undergraduate and master’s degrees from Toulouse academic institutes.
Both Dupont and France’s dreams of winning the Rugby World Cup at home in 2023 ended in disappointment after coming up against South Africa in the quarter-finals, losing by the breadth of a hair. This was painful for France, as Fabien Galthié’s team had been building for this tournament and after an electric first game against runners-up, New Zealand, it was hard to swallow for many.
Post Rugby World Cup 2023, Dupont made a switch to rugby SVNS, and will be absent from the 2024 edition of the Six Nations to focus on the 2024 Paris Olympics. Dupont expressed his desire to participate in the Olympics since December 2022, and the Olympic sevens tournaments are set for July at the Stade de France.
No matter what code of rugby Antoine Dupont plays, he is sensation to watch, and no doubt has many more years of raw talent to share with France, rugby, and the world.