Investigation into Antoine Dupont set to lead to points deduction
Drama in France.
Off-field drama is erupting in French rugby, and it could have serious ramifications for one of the sport’s biggest names — Antoine Dupont and his club Toulouse are at the centre of a fresh investigation that might see league points deducted from the French side.
According to French newspaper L’Équipe, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) is probing a series of image-rights payments totalling around €1.8 million to Dupont over nearly a decade — alongside about €170,000 paid to his France teammate Anthony Jelonch — amid questions over whether the sums were justified and whether they bypassed the Top 14 salary cap.
The crux of the matter is whether Toulouse structured these image-rights payments as a way of inflating player earnings outside the normal wage rules.
If the LNR finds the club exceeded the cap by more than the permitted threshold — reportedly €275,000 or more this season — further points deductions could be imposed.
Toulouse have already been punished previously for another issue, with the club penalised earlier in the season over the transfer of Melvyn Jaminet, including a two-point deduction and a fine.
This latest probe lands at a tricky time: Dupont is just back from a long injury lay-off and has resumed his international career with France, while Toulouse are in the thick of both the Top 14 and European competitions.
If the LNR finds a salary-cap breach, the fallout could reshape the Top 14 title race and put even more scrutiny on how French clubs handle elite-player contracts — especially those involving global stars like Dupont.
