Frenchman Antoine Dupont named world’s best rugby player of the year – archyworldys

And three for France! The scrum-half of Stade Toulouse and the XV of France Antoine Dupont has been named the best world player of the year 2021, announced World Rugby, the international body which manages rugby union and Sevens rugby, Friday, December 10 . The choice was made at the end of a process combining public vote and a jury of experts.

The 25-year-old, selected thirty-five times from the Blues, beat English second row Maro Itoje and two Australians, third row Michael Hooper and center Samu Kerevi.

Antoine Dupont is the third Frenchman to obtain this distinction created in 2001 by World Rugby: the former scrum half and current coach of the France team Fabien Galthié was awarded in 2002, and the former third row Thierry Dusautoir in 2011 .

He succeeds the South African third row Pieter-Steph du Toit, crowned in 2019 – due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the title of best player in the world was not awarded in 2020.

This international recognition rewards a year punctuated by two titles with Stade Toulouse, in the European Cup and in the championship, and a prestigious victory with France in November against New Zealand.

Promoted captain of the Blues for the fall tests, Antoine Dupont is the only Frenchman to appear in the world type team of the year, alongside five South Africans and three New Zealanders.

In addition, the title of best world player of the year was awarded to the English Zoe Aldcroft.