Good news for Stade Toulousain. Less good for Perpignan. The Catalans, penultimate in the Top 14, expected not to have Antoine Dupont facing them next Saturday (5 p.m.). However, except for a last minute problem, the scrum half of the France team should be there. His initial four-week suspension for his dangerous move on Springbok Cheslin Kolbe has just been halved after the Independent Appeal Board responded favorably to the player’s recent request.
Antoine Dupont was expelled following a dangerous tackle on winger Cheslin Kolbe during France’s victory over South Africa on November 12 in Marseille. Suspended for four weeks, he was not to return to competition until December 18 with Toulouse for the reception of Sale at Ernest-Wallon in the European Cup.
A few days ago, the best player in the world of the year 2021 decided to appeal the sanction. On the evening of last Monday, the Toulousain attended by videoconference the hearing before an independent Appeal Commission, which upheld his appeal and reduced his suspension from four weeks to two weeks.
Dupont has in the end already served his two suspension matches during France-Japan (November 20) and Lyon-Toulouse (27). He is therefore available for the match against USAP, which will also see Stade Toulousain find its internationals Julien Marchand, Anthony Jelonch and Thomas Ramos, but above all for the clash with the Irish of Munster the following week in the European Cup.