Autumn Nations Series | Dupont to lead France in Autumn Nations Series

by Felix Holland

France have named scrum-half Antoine Dupont as their captain for the Autumn Nations Series in place of the injured Charles Ollivon.

Ollivon has skippered Les Bleus since January 2020 but a knee injury has ruled him out until next year.

Dupont will take the reins for three Autumn Nations Series clashes, starting against Argentina on November 6 before further matches against Georgia and New Zealand.

This is the latest milestone in Dupont’s fine career, with the 24-year-old one of the leading No.9s in the world.

He made his Les Bleus debut in 2017 and has won 32 caps, while in 2020 he was named the Six Nations player of the tournament for a string of excellent displays.

Meanwhile, France will have to do without prop Uini Atonio this autumn, with the tighthead ruled out due to injury.

Head coach Fabien Galthie has called up Toulouse’s Dorian Aldegheri and he will compete with Demba Bamba and Wilfrid Hounkpatin for a place in the side.

Galthie’s squad meet on Sunday to begin preparations for the autumn.