Antoine Dupont SVNS Rugby Hype

We were as excited as anyone to see French player Antoine Dupont make his debut in Vancouver at the SVNS over the past weekend. His talent and work ethic are undeniable, and it was great to see him break his oft-serious expression with smiles on the big screen at BC Place.

But we also hope the hype doesn’t distract from the rugby and the talent already on view in the HSBC SVNS Series.

Feature Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

The former World XV’s Player Of The Year, Antoine Dupont, on his debut in Vancouver – scored tries, got carded and won a medal. There was hype, maybe too much of it constructed by World Rugby and some of the hype train has already edged towards annoying.

However, there is no denying his attention and the talent Dupont brings to the game – as eyes turn to LA, we can imagine the USA (not known for its subtlety) will only further shed the spotlight on the player.

Thankfully, none of the attention is emitting from the player himself. Dupont has stayed humble throughout the weekend and elaborated on the learning process he is going through.  He is relishing the chance to play Sevens Rugby again, which he said he played until he was 16 but he has not played since he turned professional. Although he remained a fan and watched as many Sevens tournaments as he could, he now finds himself on the field competing with the very best.

Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby – Dupont in action in Vancouver

Dupont said: “All the action on the field makes me more confident. I have to spend time on the field and spend time with the guys to know them better. I have to learn every minute when I am on the field.  I played sevens a lot when I was 16, 17-years-old. After I became a pro it was more difficult to play sevens so I just watched the game on TV and I watched a lot of players who are here now. It’s a pleasure to play against them.”

Dupont scored tries this weekend in Vancouver, a first against Australia, and grabbed the winner versus Ireland in the quarterfinal, as well as the final score against the USA, securing his first SVNS medal. He even saw his first yellow card in the bronze match against the same opponents.

The player wearing #25 – a tribute to his brother’s and mother’s birthday in February (2) and his father’s birthday in May (5) – is regarded as one of the finest rugby players in the game and his rugby brain and physical attributes are welcome to the sport.

French 7s Captain Paulin Riva said: “Antoine is a very good player and it’s very important for us to help him on the field … He’s the best player in the world so for me it’s an honour to have him in the group.”

Some of the way World Rugby and other media have over-prioritised his involvement is also a nod to the rumours this could just be a marketing ploy for the SVNS and Olympics – but he is a quality player and he has buoyed those around him, but let’s not forget the many established and new stars in the Sevens game already playing on the HSBC SVNS Series.

Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby – #25 Dupont in action in Vancouver

The Frenchman himself said, “There are very fast guys and they’ve known this game for a very long time. I’m new on the Series so I have to learn. I have to do my best from the first game until the last.”

I think from a fan’s, and media’s point of view, the festival characteristic of the SVNS has also shed some insights behind the man and the player who often comes across so stern-faced and serious in the sport.

“You just have to watch the guys on the pitch to understand why I was scared!”@Dupont9A is growing in confidence at #HSBCSVNSVAN #HSBCSVNS pic.twitter.com/LqYCWJoAD3

— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) February 25, 2024

We heard more English interviews from Dupont than we have in previous years, which helped bring out his personality, and his English is excellent. He even cracked a smile when he saw he was on the jumbotron screen at BC Place – we think the experience on the SVNS circuit will do the player as much good as he will do to help raise the profile of the game in 2024.

Australian Michael Hooper is set to debut for the Australians this season in LA next weekend too, and a growing list of XV rugby players are being linked to national 7s teams as the final Olympic qualifiers in Monaco and the Olympic Games in Paris edge closer.

Undoubtedly fans (and organisers) in Asia will be hoping Antoine Dupont stays fit and is selected for the tournaments in Hong Kong and Singapore on the HSBC SVNS Series.

Sevens Rugby Tournaments 2024

• LA SVNS 2024 Pools.
• Argentina Men and NZ Women Reign Supreme At Vancouver SVNS 2024.
• HSBC SVNS Singapore 2024.
• Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 Week – Ultimate Fan Guide.