In a seven-minute display that will forever mark his career, Antoine Dupont scored two tries and set up another to secure a gold medal for France, ending Fiji’s Olympic rugby sevens dominance.
Considered one of the top rugby players globally, Dupont was strategically saved for the second half on Saturday. His entry instantly changed the game, leading France to a decisive 28-7 victory.
Dupont, who skipped the Six Nations to focus on rugby sevens, aimed for a once-in-a-lifetime Olympic gold on home turf. He now returns to the French XV as an Olympic champion, easing some of the pain from last year’s Rugby World Cup disappointment.
“This is a huge reward for us, for rugby, and for the entire country,” Dupont said. “We felt we represented not just rugby but all French sports. We’re proud to start the Olympics this way.”
France’s men failed to qualify for the previous Olympics in Tokyo but can now boast the country’s first gold of the Paris Games. With Dupont, they clinched their first world sevens series title in nearly two decades and also won the series finale.
Fiji entered the final with a 17-game Olympic winning streak but struggled this season in the world series circuit. “We aimed to continue our legacy but fell short,” said Fiji coach Osea Kolinisau.
The climax of the game was a showdown between Dupont and two-time Olympic gold medalist Jerry Tuwai. Fiji scored first, but Dupont entered just after halftime with the score tied at 7-7. His immediate impact came with a long run, besting Tuwai and setting up Aaron Grandidier Nkanang to give France a 14-7 lead. Dupont’s late tries sealed the celebration for the 69,000-strong crowd.
France’s victory captivated the nation, where rugby is both a source of pride and heartache—the French have never won the Rugby World Cup in the 15-a-side format. Rugby sevens usually takes a backseat to 15s but shines during the Olympics with its fast-paced action and lively atmosphere.
Celebrations spread beyond the Stade de France, reaching fans at Roland Garros watching tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. The French sevens squad later collected their gold medals and danced on the field, celebrating their historic win.
In the bronze medal match, South Africa defeated Australia 26-19. Shaun Williams capitalized on an overlap to score in the final moments. Australia, down a player due to Nick Malouf’s red card, rallied but couldn’t equalize before time ran out.
New Zealand secured fifth place by beating Ireland 17-7, while Argentina shut out the U.S. 19-0 in the seventh-place playoff.