He showed up in the corridors of the Olympia, with a slight black eye, the mark of this World Cup with its cruel end. Antoine Dupont, captain of the French XV, found a smile again after the elimination of the Blues in the quarter-final of the World Cup against South Africa (29-28). This Monday evening, he was crowned best player in the Top 14, during Rugby Night. And he talked about his year 2024, under the sign of the Olympic Games, with the French rugby sevens team.
This trophy must make you happy…
ANTOINE DUPONT. It validates collective work. We have had the chance to win a lot with Stade Toulouse in recent seasons, and this trophy validates that. It’s also the recognition of one’s peers, that it’s the other players who elect me is a pleasure.
How are you ?
How are you. It’s true that talking about this World Cup again, there are regrets that come back, which will take time to pass, if they leave… We took the time to regenerate, to wash our heads, to find the daily life of the club, our friends, our personal life… It allows us to change our minds and find new goals.
And among the new objectives, there are the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with rugby sevens. What will your program be?
It’s been several months now that we’ve been trying to stall with France VII, with the club, with the Federation to be able to try to give me the means to participate in these Olympic Games. Today there is a larger group that I am part of. I’m going to spend time with them, try to acclimatize as best I can, hoping to perform well to apply for these Olympics.
Is it difficult to go from XV to VII?
I will respond to you in a few months… (laughs). But when we see the efforts that it requires, it is certain that there will be a time of adaptation necessary.
Why do the Games make you dream?
For all sports fans, the Olympics are legendary. For rugby fans, perhaps a little less because the sport has only recently become available. But despite that, being able to host this sporting event in France is going to be an incredible celebration. Being able to be part of it and aspire to an Olympic medal is a very motivating challenge.
Will you be at the end of the season with Stade Toulouse?
Yes, I will make the final stages with Stade Toulouse, and I hope to lift this Shield again. There are availability slots where I could spend time with the VII, but I could keep the deadlines planned with my club.
When will we next see you with a French team?
It is planned for the beginning of January where there will be a rather informal meeting with the France VII group, so that I can make contact with the team, the group, which I have not yet done.
How have you changed in recent months?
We all gained maturity and experience with this World Cup, even if it wasn’t the outcome we expected. I don’t think I’ve changed fundamentally. Perhaps over the last few seasons, my game has evolved, my personality certainly too. The first times I went to this Rugby Night, I didn’t yet have a beard and not as many matches under my belt… (smile). We evolve, we gain experience.
Do you often think about the World Cup?
It happens to us. The regrets we will have are so great that we will have them for a while. The opportunity to have a World Cup in France, prepared as we were, to finish it where we finished, obviously it’s very hard. We are not going to talk about the match scenario again. It’s hard and it’s important to switch back to other goals.
How did you experience the weeks following the elimination?
I felt the need to get away a little. I went on vacation, quite far away. I wanted to disconnect, I didn’t want to see the end of the competition. I didn’t want to see another team lift this trophy that we had all imagined lifting in our dreams. It was difficult, but sport is made of these moments. We have to grow out of it, it’s the only solution.
