TOULOUSE, France (AP) — France superstar scrumhalf Antoine Dupont is set to return for Toulouse in the Top 14 this weekend after more than eight months on the sidelines due to an ACL tear.
Dupont has not featured since rupturing cruciate ligaments in his right knee in March during a win over Ireland in the Six Nations. He returned to training at the start of October.
The 29-year-old Dupont is expected to play his comeback match on Saturday when Toulouse takes on Racing 92.
Forwards coach Jean Bouilhou said Dupont was “a different kind of player” who immediately found his footing again.
“He’s such a talented, top-level player with a sort of authority over the game,” Bouilhou said. "We’ve found the Antoine we had left. I think he quickly regains his sensations. I think he’s fit to play.”
Dupont also ruptured his ACL in the same knee in 2018.
“I can’t really say what will come of this match or the ones to follow,” Bouilhou said. "What I can tell you is what I’ve seen in training and I haven’t noticed any drop in his level compared to what he was doing last year.
"I’m actually reassured to see him performing at that level. The future will tell us how he progresses. But he gave himself every chance, during his recovery, to come back at his best.”
Dupont has been named the world's best player in 15s and sevens, has been the player of the championship in the Six Nations a record-tying three times, and led France to a rugby sevens gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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FILE - France's Antoine Dupont makes a break during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between France and Japan at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
SEATTLE (AP) — All Vinnie Pasquantino needed was a few days of rest, a morning walk around Seattle and a warm, sunny day at T-Mobile Park to get back on track for the Kansas City Royals.
Pasquantino had two hits — including a solo homer — two RBIs and two runs in his return to Kansas City’s lineup against the Seattle Mariners after sitting out the previous two games because of lower back tightness. He batted third and played first base in the Royals' 7-6 win.
“I told them yesterday, I want in,” Pasquantino said. “And I’ll let them know if anything changes.”
His single to right field drove in Kansas City’s opening run in the first inning. He then belted his fourth home run of the season in the sixth off Bryan Woo on a 2-0 count, a Statcast-projected 404-foot blast into the second deck in right. It gave the Royals a 5-3 lead before Jac Caglianone followed with a solo home run to right.
Pasquantino said it has been an issue he has dealt with for a while after he was removed in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game. He also appeared in the ninth inning and hit a game-ending flyout in Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the Athletics.
“We hope that he’s not going to have to deal with it the whole season,” manager Matt Quatraro said before Friday’s game. “But he’ll probably feel it for a handful of days before it resolves.”
But it felt good in Friday’s win.
“We’ll see how it feels in about an hour when all the adrenaline comes down,” Pasquantino said.
Pasquantino, 28, is off to a slow start this season for Kansas City, batting .176 with three doubles, 16 RBIs and 25 strikeouts in 30 games.
Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino hits an RBI single to score Maikel Garcia against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
