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Antoine Dupont’s ‘little initiation’ after joining France sevens training camp

Toulouse's French scrum-half Antoine Dupont (C) listens to his coach's instructions during a training session of the French rugby seven team in Marcoussis, south of Paris, on January 3, 2024, as part of the team's preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

One of the world’s best rugby players Antoine Dupont linked up with his new sevens teammates for the first time last month ahead of a bid to make France’s squad for the Paris Olympics in July.

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Dupont, 27, attended a France sevens training camp south of Paris in Marcoussis which was held from January 2 to 5. But it was only a brief appearance from the former World Rugby Player of the Year who returned to Toulouse ahead of their clash with Lyon that weekend.

In a video released by France Rugby, Dupont was filmed in a huddle alongside his new teammates before stepping into the centre of the circle. Dupont dropped to the ground for 10 burpees, and now we know why.

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After beating the All Blacks Sevens on the opening day of last month’s SVNS Perth at HBF Park, Frenchman Aaron Grandidier Nkanang revealed it was “a little initiation” that all players and staff must complete.

“It’s not anything particularly strange, it’s just 10 burpees,” Grandidier Nkanang told RugbyPass in Perth after France’s stunning 33-17 win over New Zealand.

“He just did his burpees and we had him for the rest of the day.

“It was nice to get to meet him, to get to know him a bit better because obviously, I’ve only known him from the TV.

“I’m excited to see what he can bring to the team.”

When asked if Dupont ‘looked like the world’s best player’ while he did his burpees, Grandidier Nkanang paused for a moment. “Yeah man,” he said before laughing.

But what Antoine Dupont’s addition to this French side could mean for the rest of the SVNS Series is no laughing matter. Les Bleus Sevens are already a rapidly improving side.

After starting their new season with a 35-nil thumping of Great Britain in Dubai, heavy defeats to Fiji and the United States saw France to fail to progress to the Cup quarter-finals. France battled it out in the bottom four along with Spain, Great Britain and Canada.

But Les Bleus Sevens showed improvement a week later to progress through to the Cup knockout rounds of SVNS Cape Town, and they made the quarter-finals last month in Perth as well.

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Next up on the SVNS Series is an event in Vancouver from February 23 to 25. Those interested in watching some of the world’s best rugby while enjoying the best party in town can get tickets HERE.

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Nickers 25 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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