{"id":291831,"date":"2023-09-30T12:35:16","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T12:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=291831"},"modified":"2023-09-30T12:35:16","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T12:35:16","slug":"france-captain-antoine-dupont-given-go-ahead-to-return-following-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/rugby-union\/france-captain-antoine-dupont-given-go-ahead-to-return-following-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"France captain Antoine Dupont given go-ahead to return following surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"
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France captain Antoine Dupont has been cleared to return to action following surgery on his facial fracture.<\/p>\n
Scrum-half Dupont became a doubt for the remainder of his country\u2019s home Rugby World Cup after suffering the injury during a 96-0 win over Namibia on September 21.<\/p>\n
The French Rugby Federation announced the 26-year-old was back with Fabien Galthie\u2019s squad at their base in Aix-en-Provence.<\/p>\n
Les Bleus play Italy in their final Pool A match on Friday, with a likely quarter-final to come on the weekend of October 14-15.<\/p>\n
\u201cAntoine has been given the go-ahead to resume physical activity taking it step by step,\u201d read a statement from the French federation.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis activity will take place under the supervision of the French national team\u2019s medical staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dupont was taken off in the 46th minute against Namibia after opposition captain Johan Deysel made a head-on-head tackle and was sent off.<\/p>\n
Deysel was subsequently banned for five matches.<\/p>\n
Antoine has been given the go-ahead to resume physical activity taking it step by step<\/p>\n
France\u2019s health manager Bruno Boussagol said on Thursday he was \u201cconvinced\u201d Toulouse player Dupont would not be available for Les Bleus\u2019 upcoming match with Italy.<\/p>\n
Bordeaux\u2019s Maxime Lucu is expected to deputise in Lyon.<\/p>\n
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France assistant coach William Servat told a press conference on Tuesday he had \u201cno doubts\u201d Dupont would be available for the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Galthie\u2019s side, who have already beaten New Zealand, Uruguay and Namibia, are likely to face South Africa, Ireland or Scotland in the last eight of the tournament.<\/p>\n