Photo: Antoine Dupont (c) Alamy
French champions Toulouse are reportedly preparing a new long-term contract offer for their star player, Antoine Dupont, potentially extending his tenure until 2031 or even 2032. According to French media, negotiations have already begun for an agreement that would secure the team leader`s place in the squad up to his 35th birthday.
A distinctive feature of this prospective deal is a clause that would permit Dupont to temporarily depart from Europe or engage in other sporting ventures. This could include playing for an overseas club or making another appearance for the French Rugby Sevens team at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Dupont previously took a similar step in 2024, temporarily pausing his commitments in classical rugby to prepare for the Paris Olympics, where he helped the French team clinch a gold medal. Additionally, earlier this year, he became a co-owner of RC Los Angeles, a club competing in the MLR league, which theoretically opens the door for a short-term move to his own project.
Currently, the 28-year-old is recuperating from an injury sustained during the Six Nations Championship, with his return to the field expected by mid-November.
Adding to the intrigue surrounding Dupont`s future, he has publicly voiced criticism against the leadership of the National Rugby League. He stated that the existing salary cap unfairly restricts athletes from leveraging their image rights and advertising contracts.
