The 2024 Rugby Night, the French rugby awards ceremony, once again crowned Antoine Dupont last night. But the latter’s face may have worried the fans…
Rugby Night 2024 once again crowned Antoine Dupont, this Monday, September 23, 2024, with a series of trophies won by the scrum-half of Stade Toulousain and the French team. The jury of the ceremony, composed of rugby players, named him Best Player of the Season in the Top 14, but also Best French International, whether at XV or 7.
Antoine Dupont had already been made a hero of the Top 14 last year and it is hard to see how the trophy could have escaped him again this year. Stade Toulousain also won the trophy for the Best Coaching Staff in the Top 14, according to the coaches’ vote. Enough to make the evening rather enjoyable for the “red and black”, who crushed the championship final last season (53-9 against UBB last June).
“That’s why I’m a little more bloated than usual…”
But beyond the trophies, it was Antoine Dupont’s appearance that raised questions. While the ceremony was broadcast on Canal+, the player appeared on stage with a very visibly swollen face, forcing the champion to explain: “They just removed my plates a few days ago, that’s why I’m a little more swollen than usual. But I’m fine,” he reassured live.
The marks on Antoine Dupont’s face are the after-effects of the cheekbone injury he suffered at the Rugby World Cup last year, during which he had to undergo surgery. Despite this operation and his return to the field, the French team failed in the quarter-finals, against the eventual winners South Africa.
Rugby Night also saw Samuel Marques (Béziers) crowned Best Pro D2 player and Séraphine Okemba honored as Best International Player. Here is the full list of winners :
The winners of the 2024 Rugby Night
- Best player in the Top 14: Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)
- Best Pro D2 player: Samuel Marques (AS Béziers Hérault)
- Best player of the In Extenso Supersevens: Thibault Debaes (Section Paloise then RC Vannes)
- Revelation: Théo Attissogbé (Paloise Section)
- Best French international player at XV and 7: Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain)
- Best French international player at XV and 7: Séraphine Okemba (France 7)
- Referee of the year: Mathieu Raynal
- Best staff in the Top 14: Stade Toulousain
- Best Pro D2 staff: RC Vannes
- Best try (public vote): Peniasi Dakuwaqa – D16 – Racing 92-Stade Français Paris
- Social Commitment Trophy: Provence Rugby with its XV School project