FILE - France's Antoine Dupont makes a break during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between France and Japan at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)Associated PressFri, November 28, 2025 at 3:50 PM UTC·1 min readTOULOUSE, France (AP) — France superstar scrumhalf Antoine Dupont is set to return for Toulouse in the Top 14 this weekend after more than eight months on the sidelines due to a serious knee injury.
Dupont, regarded by many as the world’s best player, has not featured since rupturing cruciate ligaments in his right knee during a win over Ireland in the Six Nations in March.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, the 29-year-old Dupont is expected to make his comeback on Saturday when Toulouse takes on Racing 92.
Forwards coach Jean Bouilhou said Dupont was “a different kind of player” who immediately found his footing again.
“He’s such a talented, top-level player with a sort of authority over the game,” Bouilhou told reporters. "We’ve found the Antoine we had left. I think he quickly regains his sensations. I think he’s fit to play.”
Dupont also ruptured his ACL in the same knee in 2018.
“I can’t really say what will come of this match or the ones to follow,” Bouilhou said. "What I can tell you is what I’ve seen in training and I haven’t noticed any drop in his level compared to what he was doing last year. I’m actually reassured to see him performing at that level. The future will tell us how he progresses. But he gave himself every chance, during his recovery, to come back at his best.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDupont was the player of the year in the 15-man game and has been player of the championship in the Six Nations a record-tying three times. He led France to a rugby sevens gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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