Inside Antoine Dupont's wild year as his mum speaks out on major concerns

The Six Nations is back and with it comes French rugby's returning hero. Nearly 12 months ago, Antoine Dupont was flattened at the breakdown by Andrew Porter and Tadhg Beirne, an incident which shaped his entire 2025.

Commonly regarded as the globe's finest player, Dupont had experienced a remarkable 2024 the previous year, claiming Olympic gold with the French Sevens squad at the Paris Games. He sat out that year's Six Nations owing to his Sevens training obligations, meaning he will be eager to feature in the 2026 tournament.

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The collision with Ireland during last year's championship proved particularly distressing, with the scrum-half having torn the ligaments in his right knee. Beirne had landed on Dupont's vulnerable leg following his and Porter's clear-out attempt. Dupont subsequently disclosed the injury through Instagram.

Writing on Instagram, Dupont said: "The heart is even more painful than the knee at the moment after having to abandon the mates before the final match. I am proud of what we accomplished yesterday and with all my strength with you, you will do it. Cruciate ligament rupture. This is the start of a new challenge, I'll see you in a few months on the pitch."

However, it wasn't merely a matter of a few months. Dupont only recently made his return to the rugby pitch with club side Toulouse in late November, having missed France's summer internationals and subsequent autumn campaign. So what did the Frenchman occupy himself with during his absence from the field?

The 29-year-old joined an ownership group at Rugby Football Club Los Angeles through his company Ouest Coast. The announcement came in May, with Dupont seemingly laying the groundwork for life beyond rugby with a shrewd investment. The club had only just completed their second season of Major League Rugby last year.

Dupont said: "Rugby is more than just a sport; it's a community with strong values. Beyond competitive success on the pitch for RFCLA, I am excited by the opportunity to grow rugby's popularity in the States and establish an energetic hub of rugby culture that attracts players, fans, teams, and partners from around the world.

"Los Angeles is a unique place, combining the best of sports, entertainment, fashion, and culture - I can't think of any other place that provides such opportunities for youth development, high performance, and commercial success to go hand-in-hand."

Dupont's celebrity status in France is truly something to behold, particularly as rugby rivals football for the title of the nation's favourite sport. This writer had the privilege of watching Dupont perform in Toulouse last December, and when the half-time advertisements appeared at Stade Toulousain for popular car manufacturers and luxury timepieces, Dupont featured in every single one. Not forgetting the absolutely deafening roar that erupted when he warmed up close to our section of the stadium.

Owing to this extraordinary fame, despite his injury, Dupont remained at the forefront of French media throughout 2025. His romance with Miss France and Miss Universe champion Iris Mittenaere has been extensively covered by publications Le Parisien and Paris Match before the couple were photographed at the French Open and Cannes Film Festival.

His celebrity status even extends beyond sport, with Dupont being interviewed at a Paris Saint Germain match and providing fans with updates on his injury. As well as expanding into the realm of sports team ownership, Dupont was seen at Paris fashion week last year and was even featured on Louis Vuitton's podcast. His partnerships have been prestigious, too, with LV and LVMH collaborating with the rugby legend, alongside deals with Adidas, Peugot, Volvic and Tissot.

There was also a feature in French GQ magazine, where he graced the front cover. All of this represents a significant departure from his modest beginnings in Castelnau-Magnoac. However, Dupont's mother has previously expressed concern for her son in an interview with French podcast Pourquoi le Rugby.

He had featured on the front cover of magazine Tetu, which is an LGBTQ+ publication, where he said he'd halt a game of rugby if he heard a homophobic comment on the pitch. She said she "loved it" when he was on the front cover and thought "he looked very handsome", but admitted she was afraid that by making his voice heard, Dupont could be targeted as a result.

"I'm proud of him, but I'm afraid he'll put himself in danger," she said. "That he'll be attacked by homophobic, racist people. I think he's very courageous to take a stand and be a bit of a spearhead because in rugby, there aren't many people who speak out."