September 22nd 2023.
Antoine Dupont, the France captain, has unfortunately been ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby World Cup due to a fractured cheekbone. The 26-year-old sustained the painful injury during the match against Namibia when he was forced to leave the field after a head-on-head tackle from Johan Deysel.
The French camp were initially hoping it was not too serious, but they have since confirmed the fracture. Estimates suggest that it could keep him out for four to six weeks, offering a glimmer of hope that he could return in time for the semi-finals and final of the World Cup.
A specialist will be analysing Dupont over the coming days and weeks to determine when he can return to action. France's attack coach, Laurent Labit, has said that no decision will be made lightly and that the specialist will be taking into account who Dupont is, what competition he is playing in, and will respect the player's own decision.
France have already beaten New Zealand and Uruguay, and will be even more disappointed at the loss of their captain in a match that he didn't need to be playing in, given the 96-0 scoreline. The host nation are back in action on 6 October against Italy in Lyon.
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