The $2.4m megastar of French rugby has never played in the south. Will that change in July?

May 27, 2026 — 8:30am

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The list of titles and accomplishments earned by French rugby superstar Antoine Dupont is long enough to need a “Greatest Hits”.

The nuggety halfback has been a crucial figure in France becoming one of the world’s best teams this decade, steering them to two six Nations titles, wins over the big southern powers and, in 2022, the world no.1 ranking for the first time.

Dupont has been named the World Rugby Player of the Year, the Six Nations MVP three times and he’s also helped his club Toulouse win two European Cups and the last four Top 14 titles.

Dupont even switched to sevens ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics and bossed that too: France won a shock gold medal and he was named World Sevens Player of the Year; the only person to do the XVs/7s double.

As far as ball-on-string-ability, think Nathan Cleary - but much better paid. Dupont, 29, last year signed a five-year deal with Toulouse that made him the highest-paid rugby player of any code - ever - at a tidy A$2.4 million a season.

After the Olympic heroics, some over-excited debate in the north asked if Dupont was not just one of the best to have played rugby, but could he even be the greatest of all time?

The lack of Rugby World Cup success that other GOAT claimants have - Carter, McCaw etc - is strong enough to end that debate (Dupont and France were knocked out in the quarters in 2019 and 2023).

But for many, the sealer is another glaring hole on the........

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