The coach of the Argentine Rugby sevens team denounced the nomination of Antoine Dupont among the best players of the year in the discipline. Santiago Gomez Cora criticized the choice of World Rugby despite the titles obtained by France on the world circuit and during the Paris Olympic Games.
A nomination that is making people talk… Detached from the French XV and Stade Toulousain, Antoine Dupont participated in several stages of the world 7s circuit then won the gold medal with France during the Paris Olympics. Performances which earned the world rugby phenomenon to be among the three nominated for the title of 7s player of the year with his compatriot Aaron Grandidier Nkanang and the Irishman Terry Kennedy. A decision that does not pass in Argentina.
“I don't agree with anything. I'm finally understanding a lot of things now, which I already assumed,” said the coach of the national 7s team, Santiago Gomez Cora, this Monday in front of the press and quoted by the local version of ESPN. “Everything for show and that's what France did with Dupont. He played in two stages of the world circuit, including one as a substitute. He totaled 12 minutes in Vancouver but was elected to the standard team. From there, we suspected things a little.”
“It’s too much”
Beaten in the final of the world rugby sevens circuit by the French team (5-19), in Madrid last June, the coach of the South American selection is visibly having difficulty digesting the credit granted by the authorities to Antoine Dupont.
“In Los Angeles, he played longer and was named best player of the tournament and so on… Then the typical team and now best player of the year,” Santiago Gomez Cora further railed. “It seems to me that it’s too much and it’s a lack of respect.”
No Argentines nominated despite a world final
Unhappy finalists of the Sevens, then again eliminated by Antoine Dupont's France during the quarter-finals of the 2024 Olympics (14-26), the Argentines could also have claimed to place a player among the three nominated for the prestigious award. After the coronations of Marcos Moneta in 2021 and Rodrigo Isgro in 2023, Argentina hoped to see Matias Osadczuk get his chance this year. But World Rugby decided otherwise.
“I think there must be a Frenchman, yes, they won in Madrid and they won the Games,” explained Marcos Moneta in response to questions from South American journalists. “Terry Kennedy was the top try scorer. And then, I don't like to talk because it's my team, but I would have nominated Matías Osadczuk. If you want, let him be nominated even without winning. But hey, too bad…”
