Video Antoine Dupont and the French rugby sevens team win the Los Angeles tournament, a first victory on the world circuit in 19 years

“I felt a lot of relaxation, motivation, the desire to leave with this gold medal, it was really a strong objective for the group.” It is with these words that Antoine Dupont analyzed the weekend’s performance of the French men’s rugby sevens team, during the Los Angeles tournament. After the bronze won in Vancouver, the Blues left the city of angels with gold on Sunday March 3. The Blues crushed Great Britain in the final (21-0) to win their first trophy since 2005 (at the Jean-Bouin stadium) and make an impression before the Paris Olympic Games (July 26-August 11).

Substitute during the final, but entered during the match, the scrum half of the XV of France, who embarked this year on the adventure of rugby 7 to participate in the Olympics this summer, has already touched the metal of which he’s dreaming. “By committing to this Olympic project, it was to get a medal, obviously of this color (gold). I knew that the guys were capable of it. They have been progressing for several seasons and above all, when they are at their best, they are capable of beating all the teams, I knew there was this potential.”

Antoine Dupont, “the X factor”

Since their last success in 2005, the French men’s team had lost six finals, the last of which last year in Vancouver (Canada). In Los Angeles, they showcased their mastery and experience to suffocate Great Britain (21-0). Antoine Zeghdar (7th) and Stephen Parez (9th) dove into the goal before the entry of Dupont in the second half, who offered the 3rd try to Théo Forner (13th). “The trigger is that we have worked a lot, we have experience, and we have an X factor with us,” observed Varian Pasquet, referring to his new teammate.

From now on, Antoine Dupont will return to rugby union, with his Toulouse club to return to the Top 14 and the Champions Cup. The Blues of 7 will play the Hong Kong (April 5-7) and Singapore (May 3-5) tournaments without him. He should meet them for the final of the circuit from May 31 to June 2 in Madrid.

Les Bleues are content with 5th place

In silver in Vancouver, the Blues were behind in Los Angeles. Eliminated in the quarter-finals by Canada (28-19), they finally finished fifth after having had three podiums during the first four stages.