PARIS (AP) — France is seeking a specialist opinion on a facial fracture suffered by captain and star player Antoine Dupont at the Rugby World Cup before knowing how long he will be sidelined, the French Rugby Federation said on Friday.
The host nation was holding its breath over the fate of Dupont after he sustained the serious-looking injury in a 96-0 blowout victory over Namibia on Thursday night. The federation confirmed it was a facial fracture and needed a “a specialist surgical opinion” to know how long it will be without its best player and the man regarded as the best in the world.
Scrumhalf Dupont would remain with the squad, the federation added.
Dupont's injury came in an illegal high tackle by Namibia's Johan Deysel, who was red-carded for the hit.
Dupont, the world player of the year in 2021, will likely not be so badly missed for France's last Pool A game against Italy in two weeks, but his absence for the quarterfinals might be critical, with France on course for a meeting with top-ranked Ireland or defending champion and No. 2 South Africa in the quarters in three weeks.
France has never won the Rugby World Cup and has lost three finals, but hopes were high coming into its hosting of the showpiece this year, and even higher after Dupont and Co. beat three-time champion New Zealand in the opening game.
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AP Rugby World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby-world-cup
