FFR statement: Antoine Dupont's Friday night surgery in Toulouse

Antoine Dupont’s race to get back fit in time for the closing stages of the Rugby World Cup with France got underway late on Friday evening when he underwent surgery to mend the cheekbone fracture sustained the previous night versus Namibia.

The French skipper played just 45 minutes of that 96-0 Pool A win in Marseille on Thursday as he was caught in the face by the head of Johan Deysel, the Namibian captain who was red-carded following a foul play bunker review after he was initially sin-binned.

The injury sparked fears that Dupont’s Rugby World Cup campaign was over but there is now hope that his operation in Toulouse will see him rejoin the France squad in the coming days and ultimately be available for the quarter-finals on the weekend of October 14.

An FFR communication on Saturday morning read: "Following his injury contracted during the France-Namibia match, Antoine Dupont was operated on September 22 around 23:00 at the CHU Purpan in Toulouse. In a few days, he will be able to return to the France team in a process of gradual sports recovery and under medical supervision.”

It’s believed a plaque was inserted to strengthen Dupont’s cheekbone and the plan is for him to rest for a week before resuming training with the aim of being fit for a quarter-final match in three weeks' time.