Good news for Stade Toulousain. Less good for Perpignan. The Catalans, penultimate in the Top 14, did not expect Antoine Dupont to face them next Saturday (17:00). However, barring a last-minute problem, half of France’s scrum should be there. His initial four-week suspension for a dangerous move at Cheslin Kolbe’s Springbok has just been cut in half after the Independent Board of Appeal responded positively to a recent player request.
Antoine Dupont was sent off for a dangerous tackle by striker Cheslin Kolbe during France’s victory over South Africa on 12 November in Marseille. Suspended for four weeks, he was not due to return to competition until 18 December with Toulouse to host Sale to Ernest-Vallon in the European Cup.
A few days ago, the best player in the world in 2021 decided to appeal the sanctions. Last Monday night, Toulouse took part in a video conference call at an independent appeals panel hearing, which granted his appeal and reduced his suspension from four weeks to two weeks.
Dupont, after all, has already served two matches of suspension during France-Japan (November 20) and Lyon-Toulouse (27). He is therefore available for a match against USAP, in which Stade Toulousain will also face fellow internationals Julien Marchand, Anthony Gelonch and Thomas Ramos, but above all for a clash with the Irishman from Munster next week in the European Cup.
Source: Le Parisien
