Rugby: Antoine Dupont loses his title of best player of the year

the essential
The scrum half of Stade Toulousain and the XV of France, Antoine Dupont, was not elected player of the year 2022, this Sunday evening, during the World Rugby Awards. The Irish third line Josh van der Flier succeeds him.

This Sunday evening, in Monaco, on the occasion of the World Rugby Awards, the captain of Stade Toulousain who was named in the category of best player of the year was not elected. Antoine Dupont was named alongside the Irish, the third line Josh van der Flier and the opening half Johnny Sexton, and the South African center three-quarter Lukhanyo Am. It was finally Josh van der Flier who won this title

This year, if the scrum half did not win anything in club with Stade Toulousain, in terms of titles, he still had a good season on an individual level. He was notably nominated for the title of player of the 2021-2022 season alongside Grégory Alldritt and Zach Mercer, the winner. But it was in selection that Dupont had his greatest successes in 2022. As captain, in the absence of Charles Ollivon, the former Castrese led the Habs to a historic grand slam during the Tournament of Six Nations at the start of the year. During this tournament dominated by the Blues, he was elected player of the tournament.

If he had been elected player of the year for the second time, Antoine Dupont would have been the first Frenchman in history to achieve this performance. Before him, the current coach of the Blues, Fabien Galthié, had been honored with this prize in 2022 and the former Toulousain, Thierry Dusautoir, in 2011.

At international level, only New Zealanders Dan Carter (2005, 2012, 2015), Richie McCaw (2006, 2009, 2010), and Beauden Barrett (2016, 2017) have been voted player of the year on several occasions.

source site