Antoine Dupont, France captain, joins Rugby Football Club Los Angeles ownership group
France captain Antoine Dupont, widely regarded as one of the best rugby union players of his era, has joined the ownership group of Rugby Football Club Los Angeles (RFCLA).
Dupont, 28, joins the Major League Rugby franchise with his company, Ouest Coast, and will guide the club's 'performance, branding, and commercial development' with the aim of growing the popularity of the sport in the U.S.
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The French scrum-half joins the club ahead of a significant five years for rugby union in the U.S, with it set to host the 2028 Olympic Games, before the 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup, and 2033 Women's Rugby World Cup.
'Rugby is more than just a sport; it's a community with strong values,' Dupont said in a statement issued on Friday. '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.
'Los Angeles is a unique place, combining the best of sports, entertainment, fashion, and culture – I can't think of any other place that provides such opportunities for youth development, high performance, and commercial success to go hand-in-hand.'
Rugby Football Club Los Angeles is proud to welcome @Dupont9A into the ownership group of the franchise.
MEDIA (English) https://t.co/VwDdCufqyj pic.twitter.com/vgaE58YaEl
— Rugby Football Club Los Angeles (@RugbyFCLA) May 16, 2025
Dupont is set to be sidelined for an extended period after rupturing his knee ligaments during France's 42-27 win over Ireland in this year's Six Nations in March. His nation went on to win the final match of their campaign against Scotland to lift the title a week later.
The 2021 World Player of the Year has also led his club, Stade Toulousain, to four Top 14 titles — the top-flight of French rugby — in the past five seasons (excluding 2019/2020, which was abandoned due to Covid-19), alongside two European Champions Cup triumphs. Dupont's France won gold in the Rugby 7s event at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with a 28-7 win over Fiji in the final at the Stade de France.
'We feel very privileged that Antoine has chosen RFCLA as the pathway to inspire new rugby players and fans and to join us in growing a global rugby brand,' RFCLA CEO Pete Sickle said.
'He is as dedicated to expanding the rugby community as he is to competing on the pitch and his vision for integrating the athleticism and core values of rugby will prove invaluable to building a bright future for rugby in LA and throughout the U.S.'
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