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'We have to say it loud and clear': Antoine Dupont stands up against homophobia
By Willy Billiard
Antoine Dupont never ceases to surprise, even off the pitch. We still remember him posing half-naked on the Dieux du Stade calendar in 2020 or on the cover of GQ Magazine in a yellow bathrobe in 2022.
This Wednesday, he will appear on the front cover of Têtu, a queer news and culture magazine and the most widely read LGBT+ publication in France.
The headline: "No more taboos or shame". In portraying this 27-year-old totem of French rugby, the magazine has achieved a master stroke.
“If you're working on issues of inclusion, rugby is a good environment to look at,” it says, citing teams such as Les Gaillards (world champions in the Bingham Cup organised by International Gay Rugby) and the ‘Let's tackle homophobia’ programme launched by the Ligne Nationale de Rugby (LNR) in 2020.
The importance of rugby's inclusive values
Arguably the most famous French player in the world, Antoine Dupont has not hesitated to take a stand against homophobia because of the values of respect and inclusion that he believes are fundamental to rugby and society as a whole.
Appearing on the cover of the magazine will expose him again, but it's a calculated move, he insists. “We just have to get over it and not be afraid of the backlash, because we just want to help end homophobia in our sport,” he says.
“I am very relaxed about it, which is why I accepted it straight away, knowing that I would be teased a bit.
“As long as the message has an impact, that's the most important thing. And if the teasing makes people talk more about the article, that's even better!”
In an environment dominated by virility, he is surprised that only one French rugby player – Rouen’s Jérémy Clamy-Edroux, who came out in the Canal + documentary ‘Faut qu'on parle’ (‘We need to Talk’) in 2021 – is openly gay.
“I doubt there's [only] a single gay player on the pitch! Even though rugby can be seen as macho, we're very open-minded and I think today we're all able to accept each other's sexual orientations,” says Antoine Dupont, who hopes other players will feel able to come out openly.
Beyond the stereotypes of masculinity
“That's another reason why I try to communicate on this issue, because those who hide it must be having a hard time. You have to tell them there's nothing to worry about. I think the attitudes are there, so we have to say it loud and clear.
“I think that it is also our responsibility, as players, team-mates or opponents, to speak out and show that there is no problem for us, that we accept everyone.
“So, we really need to keep repeating it, we need to communicate about it so that everybody is comfortable with it.”
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Latest Comments
I agree that Sotutu is the better-rounded backrow forward, but No.8 is a specialist position and Sititi is the better specialist. Sotutu is taller, faster and the better lineout exponent, but Sititi has the greater acceleration, a lower body position and better post contact leg drive. In running the ball back from depth, Sititi immediately accelerates to top speed, trusting in his power and footwork to breach the line. By contrast, Sotutu begins his run at half pace whilst looking for a weak spot in the line. By the time he reaches the line, the gap has closed. That said, there is a real weakness in the backrow selection. Robertson has picked four sevens, Jacobson, Papalii, Savea and Blackadder. He has chosen five No.8s, adding Sititi to the previously named four, but just one specialist six. Blackadder is an excellent Rugby player with a high work rate, a truckload of aggression and devastating power in the tackle, but I do not see how the All Blacks can find a use for him. He is too short and too light for six, and he is too slow for either seven or eight. Bench? Papalii is the faster finisher and Savea is much faster. In my view, Blackadder should have been left in the wider training group for spare parts. His spot should have been taken by Cameron Suafoa, Jaime Hannah or Naitoa Ah Khoi, all of whom can cover lock or six off the bench.
Go to commentsThat is a fair comment. ABs were smashing the English scrum time and time again but inexperienced No 8 So'oialo tried to win it by himself. Also - the ref (Dickinson) was soon relieved of his test duties after that game… following his increasingly erratic officiating and the mountain of errors he kept making. Clearly after the third collapse a penalty try should have been awarded. But hey England won
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