Antoine Dupont with the French 7s team from January

During the presentation of the strategic plan of the National Rugby League, this Monday, Jean-Marc Lhermet, vice-president of the FFR, clarified the contours of Antoine Dupont’s program for the coming months. While the captain of the fifteen of France confirmed last week that he was indeed applying to compete in the Olympic Games with the Blues of the 7, the staff of the selection and that of Stade Toulousain discussed to try to best organize his schedule .

An agreement between the League, the Federation and Toulouse

Dupont will begin his septist preparation “at the beginning of January” confirmed Lhermet, “to be ready as quickly as possible to bring the maximum of what he can, first in the preparation, and if he is chosen among the team, to participate in the Olympic Games. The vice-president of the Federation added that Dupont could “potentially be on the Perth stage”, which is scheduled for January 26 to 28.

Will the Toulouse player therefore miss the start of 2024 with his club? “I didn’t say that,” replied Lhermet, before adding: “He will start discussing, preparing with the 7 from the start of the year.” The vice-president of the FFR specified that there was “a defined framework” between the staff of the Bleus du 7 and that of Stade Toulousain. “But this framework is bound to change because everything will depend on the course of Stade Toulousain. There is an agreement which also financially regulates this agreement between the League, Stade Toulousain and the FFR. This too has been formalized. Today, banco, all that’s left to do is get started. »