Executive of the French rugby sevens team, Stephen Parez spoke about the contribution of Antoine Dupont to the Blues and the evolution of the team, winner of its first tournament in 18 years this winter.
While a slight doubt surrounds the presence of Antoine Dupont during the Rugby Sevens Finals in Madrid at the end of the month, the Blues have been playing the Singapore stage since this Friday without the scrum half from Stade Toulousain. Jérôme Daret’s men hope to do as well as in Hong Kong last month where they pushed to the final despite the absence of the XV specialist, retained by the Rouge et Noir.
Executive of the French team, Stephen Parez nonetheless easily recognizes the enormous contribution of the former Castres, capable of leading the Blues to their first victory in 18 years, during the Los Angeles stage, the one of the two tournaments contested by the native of Lannemezan. And too bad if Antoine Dupont threatens his starting place, he who is playing his eleventh season with the French sevens rugby team.
“It’s a time when competition is tough. Today, she is healthy in the French team. We’re used to welcoming rugby union players. It’s a monster of rugby union who comes. Good for the team. He is a player who learns very, very quickly. That’s great. He raises the level of the team “, he confided on the set of Mon Paris Olympique, on Eurosport.
“The French team is splendid”
However, the French team has reached a milestone regardless of the arrival of Antoine Dupont. “We arrive at a moment where the team reaches a maturity that we have never had and everyone manages to remain at this perfection. Today, the France team is splendid. We always have in mind to be part of those who will be part of the adventure in Paris. But we are here for a mission, which the French team manages to perform. It’s a collective mission,” he stressed, relieved to have finally tasted victory with these Blues.
“The victory in Los Angeles this year was an incredible performance from the team and I am very happy to have experienced that. It was something that scared me. Starting my eleventh season of sevens rugby without having won a tournament, I began to wonder if I had had a good career. But it’s a step before the Olympic Games”he said again, determined to shine in Paris.
