International scrum-half Antoine Dupont, already voted World Rugby Player of the Year, succeeds Exeter Director of Rugby Rob Baxter as winner of the prestigious Pat Marshall Memorial Award after an outstanding 12 months for the national team and Toulouse, which he helped to achieve a European Cup and Top 14 double.
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The last time a Frenchman had won this prize awarded by British journalists, it was in 1981 with the third line wing Jean-Pierre Rives, originating like him from the South-West of France.
Dupont, 25, has become a key part of a much-improved France side, which he captained last fall, in a string of matches that included a first home win against New Zealand since 2009.
Antoine Dupont's preparation for the Six Nations next month has been affected by a positive Covid test last week which will delay his entry into the French XV training camp.
Like him, his teammate and opening half Romain Ntamack also tested positive.
