This Monday, Midi Olympique organized its 71st Rugby Oscars ceremony in Paris. A memorable evening, where a certain Antoine Dupont was (again) in the spotlight…
For the second year in a row, the Midi Olympic Rugby Oscars chose the Pavillon Cambon Capucines, in the Parisian golden triangle between Concorde and Place Vendôme, to roll out the red carpet for their ceremony, 71e of the name. The splendor of the place deserved such a casting.
First, there was obviously a question of rewards. In this game, one man has been crushing the competition for five years now: Antoine Dupont, already crowned four times (from 2019 to 2022) and who, this year again, was the overwhelming favorite. How could it be otherwise, after a season where he won everything, whether at 7 (world champion, Olympic champion) or at XV (champion of France and Europe)? Unsurprisingly, the captain of the Blues was therefore awarded the Golden Oscar, the most prestigious of all, the one which rewards the best French player of the season. “He deserves it, how could it be otherwise? »applauded Jean-Michel Baylet, president of the La Dépêche du Midi group, at the end of the ceremony. “But beyond “Super-Dupont” and its performances for which we lack superlatives, we are proud of its loyalty to our event. It's still the best evening of rugby ever! The whole world of rugby is there, French and international. The Oscars are the event of the year. Bravo to Midi Olympique for bringing this moment loud and clear. »
Jack Willis wins the European Oscar
With this fifth coronation, Dupont moves a little closer to the legend Serge Blanco, six golden Oscars under his belt. At only 27 years old, time should let him permanently engrave his name at the top of the French Olympus. And since he never has enough, Dupont also won the Oscar World trophy, the other major title of this evening.
In the other categories, we note the Oscar Europe awarded to Jack Willis, sensational in the Stade Toulouse campaign in the Champions Cup, up to the title. Among the women, it was Bordeaux and French XV hooker Agathe Sochat who was honored, to the applause of a crowd of leaders from rugby and the world of French entrepreneurship. “We have the entire economic world, all the big French bosses are there. It is recognition of the action that we are carrying out and we are very happy to have them with us, who accompany us in these Oscars » continued Jean-Michel Baylet.
The 2024 winners of the Olympic Rugby Midi Oscars
Oscar Or : Antoine Dupont
Oscar Argent : Thomas Ramos
Oscar Bronze: Damian Penaud
Oscar Europe : Jack Willis
Oscar World: Antoine Dupont
Oscar Feminins: Agathe Sochat
Oscar Afans: Stade Villeneuvois (Villeneuve d’Ascq)
Oscar Espoilers: Nicolas Depoortere
Carter and superstar
The Oscars thus awarded, the second part of the evening was devoted to the legends of this game and, this year, more specifically to the players in the pivotal positions. The 450 people present at the Cambon Capucines pavilion were able to duly acclaim the French heroes (Jean-Baptiste Elisalde, Richard Astre, Pierre Berbizier, François Trinh-Duc, « Titou » Lamaison…) then some icons from the history of world rugby. For this 71e prestigious ceremony, David Kirk, Grant Fox, Alessandro Troncon, Diego Dominguez, George Gregan and Stephen Larkham made the trip. And, at the end, the immense Dan Carter, present in Paris especially for the occasion. The climax of this evening rich in stars.
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