French captain Antoine DuPont is widely regarded as the best rugby player of his generation and has taken ownership of the rugby football club Los Angeles, the major league rugby franchise said Thursday.
The 28-year-old Scrum Half joins the RFCLA ownership group along with his company, Ouest Coast.
The move is an important milestone for U.S. rugby ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2031 and 2033 Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups.
DuPont, selected for World Rugby Player of the Year and Captain Club and Country, won major titles in the 15-A-Side and Sevens tournaments.
“Rugby is more than just a sport. It’s a community of strong value,” DuPont said in a statement.
“I am excited about the opportunity to increase the popularity of rugby in the US and establish an energetic hub of rugby culture that attracts players, fans, teams and partners from around the world.”
The move is an RFCLA coup, now a second season in MLR, a fast-growing league founded in 2017 as North America’s first professional rugby tournament.
The franchise sees DuPont’s involvement as a catalyst for high-performance rugby and commercial development ambitions.
“I feel very privileged that Antoine chose RFCLA as a path to inspire new rugby players and fans,” said Pete Sickle, CEO of RFCLA.
“His vision to integrate rugby athleticism and core values proves invaluable to build a bright future for sports across LA and the United States.” The name Henry Pollock felt like the whole of Northampton was packed into its place. Pollock’s name caused a chunky roar.
– Tom Hamilton’s profile of Henry Pollock’s incredible Lionsbolter
– Sam Bruce: Owen Farrell doesn’t mean a fear factor in Australia
– British & Irish Lions Fixture for Australia Tour
– Complete 38-person Lions Team
– Watch: The moment Maroije was nominated as captain of the Lions