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last wk.

Dupont Withdrawn From Nations Championship, Graou Called Up

The France captain’s late exit removes a key playmaker and creates a last‑minute selection test for the touring squad ahead of July’s southern‑hemisphere matches.

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - France v England - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - March 14, 2026 France's Antoine Dupont during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes
David Rogers/Getty Images
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Overview

  • The French Rugby Federation confirmed Monday that Antoine Dupont will not join the touring party and that Toulouse team‑mate Paul Graou has been called into the 33‑man squad.
  • Dupont will miss France’s July fixtures against New Zealand in Christchurch, Australia in Brisbane on July 11 and Japan in Tokyo on July 18.
  • The FFR issued only a brief statement and gave no medical details, while specialist outlet Midi Olympique has reported Dupont was carrying a calf injury from Toulouse’s knockout run.
  • Dupont’s season was already disrupted by a 2025 knee cruciate rupture and other knocks, leaving him with limited minutes this year and raising questions about workload management between club finals and international duty.
  • Graou is expected to make his Test debut and the squad has already absorbed an earlier withdrawal when Joshua Brennan was replaced by Alexandre Roumat, leaving France to manage depth and leadership on the southern tour.