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Rugby World Cup

Antoine Dupont posts short social media message following operation

By Liam Heagney

23 Sep 2023

(Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

Antoine Dupont has posted a short message on social media less than 12 hours after his late Friday night operation in Toulouse. The French skipper played just 45 minutes of France’s 96-0 Pool A win in Marseille on Thursday, exiting the action with a fractured cheekbone following a red-carded tackle to the head from Namibia’s Johan Deysel.

The injury sparked fears that Dupont’s Rugby World Cup campaign was over but there is now hope that an operation will see him rejoin the France squad in the coming days and ultimately be available for the quarter-finals on the weekend of October 14.

An FFR communication on Saturday morning read: “Following his injury contracted during the France-Namibia match, Antoine Dupont was operated on September 22 around 23:00 at the CHU Purpan in Toulouse.

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“In a few days, he will be able to return to the France team in a process of gradual sports recovery and under medical supervision.”

It’s believed a plaque was inserted to strengthen Dupont’s cheekbone and the plan is for him to rest for a week before resuming training with the aim of being fit for a quarter-final match in three weeks’ time.

Dupont has since followed the French rugby federation’s communique with a message of his own, posting to his 628,000 followers on Instagram and his 130,000 followers on X.

“Touched but not sunk,” he wrote. “Show must go on. Can’t wait to reunite with the band. Thank you for your messages.”

Touché mais pas coulé. Show must go on ??. Hâte de retrouver le groupe ?
Merci pour vos messages pic.twitter.com/KCJYJp3Fit
— ??????? ?????? (@Dupont9A) September 23, 2023

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Comments

4 Comments

Tobie 424 days ago

Much respect for Antoine DP. Hope is recovers well.

Graham 424 days ago

Agree. Such a huge disappointment for him and all rugby lovers.

bob 424 days ago

100 per cent agreed Cam

Cam 425 days ago

Absolutely gutted for France. His absence will be sorely missed - not just by the French, but by every other rugby fan who have come to admire this rugby icon!

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Comments on RugbyPass

Bull Shark 7 minutes ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Not true. I'm a South African and I absolutely loved seeing the Wallabies beating England. And miss the Wallabies of old who were a devastating force with some of the greatest players of all time.

I hear quite regularly that Australians prefer Aussie rules, league, and cricket over rugby.

So again, seems like Australians are to blame for the state of the game in Australia?

16 Go to comments

Bull Shark 15 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I find Ben Smith to be an emotionally driven hysteric. So I question everything he writes.

He launched into the year about the ABs being back this year. For a "journalist" his opinions are based on the flavour of the month.

He's at least gone quiet about how sh1t the boks actually are. Although I suspect he's working on an outrageous article to that effect as we speak, to drive engagement after the end of the Autumn series, as we'll all be taking a break until the 6N.

22 Go to comments

Chesterfield 17 minutes ago

Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

The dominant pack should be enforcing their superiority with maximum points and the psychological advantage of taking the lead.

You don’t get that by saying we’ll settle for three and try again you get it by scoring seven and trying again. Doesn’t come off every time?

No.

But if you’ve asserted dominance letting the opposition off and not trying to build a double score difference is wrong minded.

All blacks have traditionally played to build the unassailable lead not meekly win a single point victory.

11 Go to comments

Arnold 20 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Aaah. Ben Smith. Ever the unbiased, objective rugby scribe......NOT.

Unable to give credit where it's due, other than for the ABs, especially when it comes to the Boks. His contempt for them is tangible. If you want to " Get Real" about these ABs Ben, consider when they last beat the Boks??? For us Bok fans, beating the ABs is the only true measure.

22 Go to comments

Reader76 39 minutes ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

"they [All Blacks] are nuggety and resourceful and don’t wilt. They are prepared to win the hard way, accumulating points by any means necessary."

Sounds like you're describing your arch-nemesis Ben 😁

22 Go to comments

CM 42 minutes ago

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

This article only shows a part of SBs failings as England Coach. Firstly his reputation st Leicester was false, his SA and Welsh players won the matches not his coaching prowess. He has Wigglesworth as attack coach, someone who rarely attacked when playing. His player selection is awful, ignoring form players and sticking with failed internationals. He picks players that he knows and will be easy to manage for him. What on earth is Slade doing when even for Exeter he does not make line breaks with steppping, pace or guile, why on earth are Cole,George,Steward,Ford,Iseweke and a few other anywhere near the Team. Borthwick is awful as Head Coach of England.

1 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 43 minutes ago

Key Wallabies trio running hot a year after being left in cold

Good to be writing about a WB team that has beaten two 6 N sides in successive weeks, Brett.

Lolesio indeed is looking very comfortable under Schmidt coaching. He must feel as confident now as he was feeling in his spell at Toulon last year. It will be interesting to see how he does against Finn Russell.

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J Marc 1 hour ago

'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Your unterstanding of the relation FFR LNR, is far better than the one in the article. For Meafou, there is an article on Skelton saying he is totally indispensable in the australian game.

In France they are often compared, and french game is often, but not always ,based on this kind of number 5. But , there are a lot of kind of play in France and in the world, and it's a blessing, because otherwise, the game would be boring.

On my other post ,which you replied, my intention was to explain with some historics facts the main importance, in France, of the championship.

But ,once again, I would prefer 3 games in NZ , with the better french players.

287 Go to comments

Ninjin 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I said before the November tests that the AB's should go smash some Nh teams to find their feet and it seems that is just what they did bar France. Could have should have always sucks. Better to look to the future.

22 Go to comments