France captain Antoine Dupont will not be risked to take on the Springboks in Paris in November.
He has taken his first steps towards a long-awaited return to rugby and there was a glimmer of hope that he may be fast-tracked to join Les Bleus as they welcome some southern hemisphere giants in November. But the superstar scrumhalf will play no part in the blockbuster Test against the back-to-back Rugby Championship winners.
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The 2021 World Player of the Year and reigning World Sevens Player of the Year reported for light training with Toulouse this week, seven months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in France’s Six Nations win over Ireland.
Dupont joined his club teammates for warm-ups before training separately, as he continues a careful rehabilitation programme. Toulouse sources confirmed that while his recovery is progressing well, he is not expected to return to competitive action until December at the earliest.
That timeline rules the 28-year-old out of France’s year-end Tests against South Africa, Fiji and Australia.
Dupont’s absence will be felt deeply by Les Bleus, who have leaned heavily on his creativity and leadership since his debut in 2017. His return, when it comes, will provide a major boost for both club and country ahead of the Six Nations.
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© Agence France-Presse
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