Toulouse (France) (AFP) – France rugby captain Antoine Dupont, arguably the most well-known male player in the world, has become a shareholder in Rugby Football Club Los Angeles (RFCLA), the American side announced on Friday. The 2021 World Player of the Year has bought into US rugby as the country prepares to host the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles as well as the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033 respectively.
“It is a pivotal moment, a unique opportunity to take part in something big,” said Dupont in a statement released by the club. The 28-year-old, who has been away from the pitch since rupturing cruciate ligaments in his right knee in Ireland in March, spent a few days holidaying in Los Angeles at the end of last summer, after winning the French Rugby Sevens title at the Paris Olympics.
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“I discovered an energy, an ambition and a love of sport that touched me deeply,” he said. “Beyond competitive success on the pitch for RFCLA, I am excited by the opportunity to grow rugby’s popularity in the States and establish an energetic hub of rugby culture that attracts players, fans, teams, and partners from around the world.”
Founded in 2018 in Atlanta but based in Los Angeles since 2024, RFCLA are currently fourth in the five-team Western Conference of Major League Rugby, the main league in a country where the sport remains largely unknown. “Dupont will leverage his unparalleled success on the pitch and extensive marketing experience to guide RFCLA’s enduring success in high performance, branding, and commercial development,” said the Californian club.
© 2024 AFP
