Title: Antoine Dupont Chooses Olympic Dream Over Six Nations
France captain Antoine Dupont has recently announced his decision to sit out of the upcoming Six Nations tournament in order to prioritize his preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games, which will be held in Paris. This news comes only a month after France’s disappointing early exit from the World Cup.
Dupont, 27, will dedicate his time and efforts to participating in legs of the World Rugby seven-a-side circuit, now known as SVNS. In January, he will join France’s sevens squad before competing in the SVNS events in Vancouver and Los Angeles. The official announcement regarding his intentions will be made at a press conference scheduled for Monday, marking only 250 days until the Games commence.
Considering his remarkable performance in the 15-a-side version of the sport, Dupont’s decision to shift his focus towards the Olympic sevens competition has come as a surprise. His last appearance for the French national team was during their World Cup quarter-final defeat against South Africa. However, the passionate scrum-half has expressed his unwavering motivation and desire to participate in the Olympic event.
The Stade de France in northern Paris has been selected as the host venue for the sevens competitions. Dupont will join the ranks of other notable 15-a-side players, including Cheslin Kolbe and Sonny Bill Williams, who have also showcased their skills at past Olympic Games. Having won the last two men’s gold medals since seven-a-side rugby was introduced into the Olympics, Fiji will undoubtedly be a tough contender to beat.
With Dupont’s absence, France head coach Fabien Galthie will face the challenge of naming a new captain and starting scrum-half for the Six Nations. This unexpected development may require Galthie to reevaluate his game plan and make crucial adjustments to the team’s strategies.
While fans may be disappointed not to see Dupont in action during the Six Nations, they can take solace in the fact that the talented captain is pursuing his dream of representing his country on the Olympic stage. As the countdown to the Paris Games continues, all eyes will be on Dupont and his sevens teammates, eager to witness their journey towards Olympic glory.
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