A new reward for Antoine Dupont. Already voted best player in Europe and the world last year, the scrum half of the XV of France was named rugby personality of the year 2021 by the union of the British specialized press. A small event in the history of this prize, since it is the first time since 1981 and Jean-Pierre Rives that a Frenchman has received this honorary title.
The 25-year-old, named Blues captain on the last autumn tour, edged out Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, England fly-half Marcus Smith, the ex-Samoan player now boss of the players’ union of the Pacific Dan Leo, the coach of the XV of the Women’s Rose Simon Middleton or the English player Zoe Aldcroft. A designation that rewards a year when Antoine Dupont achieved the Top 14-European Cup double with Toulouse and dominated the All Blacks with the XV of France.
But the year 2022 has started less well for the scrum half. Injured and then tested positive for Covid-19, the player has not been aligned with a club since Toulouse’s victory in Cardiff in the European Cup in mid-December. He is also absent from the start of the gathering, which began on Sunday evening, of Fabien Galthié’s men for the Six Nations Tournament. A competition that he will still approach as captain in the absence of the usual wearer of the armband, Charles Ollivon.