Antoine Dupont will have to find room in his trophy cabinet for another gong after the France and Toulouse scrum-half was crowned the Top 14’s Player of the Year.
The 24-year-old succeeded South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe after helping Toulouse secure just their second league and European Champions Cup double last season.
Australia lock Will Skelton and Fiji winger Josua Tuisova of La Rochelle and Lyon respectively, were also nominated for the award – with the latter last season’s top try scorer.
Player of the Championship – Classic winners: Antoine Dupont
Dupont also claimed the France International Player award after seeing off competition from flanker Anthony Jelonch and No.8 Gregory Alldritt at the ceremony in Paris.
The electrifying scrum-half scored 11 tries and contributed seven assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for Toulouse last season as they clinched the double for the first time since 1996.
His triumph at the awards came just 24 hours after helping Toulouse remain at the summit of the Top 14 table with a 27-15 victory at home against Clermont on Sunday.
The reigning EPCR European Player of the Year provided a reminder of his class with a clever kick for Romain Ntamack’s try before crossing for his first try of the season to make sure of the points.
He can add his Top 14 Player of the Year and France International Player award to his ever-burgeoning collection, which includes the 2020 Player of the Championship award.
Smith proclaims Dupont as the best player on the planet
Dupont became the first-ever Frenchman to be awarded one of rugby’s greatest accolades for a sensational Guinness Six Nations, making more metres than any other No.9 (249m).
Twelve months later, Dupont was nominated for the prize once again after another impressive Championship which included four assists in France’s opening round win over Italy.
He finished the 2021 Guinness Six Nations with three tries and five assists and while he missed out on retaining his title to Hamish Watson, his brilliance was clear for all to see.
