Antoine Dupont, France’s inspirational captain and widely regarded as the best player in the world, has confirmed that he has ruptured the cruciate ligaments in his right knee. The injury occurred during France’s Six Nations victory over Ireland in Dublin, dealing a major blow to both his club and national team.
“The heart hurts even more than the knee when you have to leave your friends before the last step,” Dupont wrote on Instagram. “I am proud of what we accomplished yesterday and with all my strength with you, you will do it. Rupture of the cruciate ligaments. This is the beginning of a new challenge, I’ll see you in a few months on the field.”
The 28-year-old scrum-half suffered the injury in the first half when Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne fell on his leg at the base of a ruck. Match referee Angus Gardner decided against penalizing Beirne, ruling the incident accidental and opting not to consult the television match official.
France’s head coach, Fabien Galthié, was less convinced. Expressing his frustration, he called the incident “reprehensible” and voiced his disappointment over the lack of action. “There is a suspicion of a quite serious knee injury to Antoine,” he said. “He is suffering, and we are suffering with him. We are angry and we want an explanation; so, we have cited two players.”
Alongside Beirne, Calvin Nash was also cited for a high tackle on Pierre‑Louis Barassi, which resulted in a yellow card. The collision forced Barassi out of the game after failing a head injury assessment. However, neither Irish player has faced further disciplinary action.
With France opting for an unusual seven-forward, one-back bench, Galthié was left with limited options after Dupont’s departure. Maxime Lucu, the only backline replacement, slotted in at scrum-half, while flanker Oscar Jégou had to step in as a makeshift center.
Ireland’s interim head coach, Simon Easterby, defended his players and dismissed allegations of foul play. “I think it’s just a rugby incident. Tadhg cleans out someone in front of Antoine Dupont and he gets hit off the back of it. It happens, unfortunately,” he said.
Dupont is now set to miss the remainder of the domestic season with Toulouse, who currently lead the French Top 14 and have progressed to the Champions Cup last 16 as they seek to retain their European title. Recovery from an injury of this nature typically takes six to nine months, making it unlikely that he will return before the autumn.
His absence will be a significant loss for both club and country, given his leadership and exceptional skill set. Toulouse will now have to navigate the crucial stages of the season without their star playmaker, while France will be forced to adjust their game plan in his absence. Dupont’s road to recovery begins now, and his return to the field will be eagerly awaited by fans and teammates alike.
