Antoine Dupont's Recovery: From Injury to Anticipation
Antoine Dupont, celebrated as the best player in France's Top 14 and the best French international of the year, made an appearance at the Nuit du Rugby at the Olympia, drawing attention not only for his accolades but also for a noticeable mark under his eye. The scrum-half, who recently underwent surgery to remove plates from a previous injury, reassured fans and fellow attendees that he is on the mend and in good spirits.
Dupont's injury, a maxillo-zygomatic fracture, occurred during the 2023 Rugby World Cup in a match against Namibia. Following emergency surgery, he remarkably returned to play in the quarter-finals against South Africa. However, the team did not achieve the desired outcome in that match, leaving a lingering concern among fans about his health.
Now, eleven months post-injury, Dupont has fully recovered, with the surgical plates removed just days before the event. He humorously noted the slight swelling around his cheekbone, attributing it to the recent procedure but affirmed there is no pain involved. "They just removed the plates a few days ago, that's why I'm a little more swollen than usual," he explained at the event.
After a demanding season that included two titles with his club Toulouse and an Olympic gold medal with the French rugby 7s team, Dupont is taking a well-deserved break. He plans to return to training soon and expects to be back on the pitch by early to mid-October. "I don't have many holidays left, I've already had a lot," he remarked, indicating his eagerness to get back to competitive rugby.
