Where Could Antoine Dupont Sign? Five Possible Clubs

The club are under scrutiny for alleged salary cap breaches, with continued violations beyond October potentially leading to sporting sanctions, including points deductions or even relegation.

If that happened, it is difficult to imagine one of rugby’s biggest stars remaining at the club. Here are five clubs he could join if the worst was to happen to Toulouse.

Signing Dupont would require serious investment, but Newcastle have the financial backing to make it happen. They also still have their marquee player slot available, which sits outside the league salary cap.

From the Red Bulls perspective, bringing in one of the biggest names in rugby would boost the club’s profile while naturally strengthening the squad as well.

Dupont is already an official Red Bull athlete. His partnership with the brand includes personal sponsorships, promotional campaigns, and ambassador duties.

That relationship came into focus when he completed injury rehabilitation at the Red Bull Performance Centre in Los Angeles.

At the time, it sparked rumours about a possible move away from French rugby to Newcastle, although those claims were later dismissed.

Suntory Sungoliath are another club capable of offering both financial power and a unique lifestyle opportunity.

Based in Tokyo, they now have room in their wage structure following the announcement that Cheslin Kolbe will return to South Africa.

Alongside the money on offer, the chance to live in Tokyo and play in a less demanding league could appeal to Dupont after years of dealing with the intensity of the Top 14.

Japan has also become an attractive destination for international stars who want to balance club rugby with Test commitments, something highlighted by the number of Springboks currently playing there.

This move feels more sentimental than realistic. Castres was where Dupont’s rise truly began, and a return would complete a full-circle story many supporters would love to see.

Dupont joined Castres in 2014 after Auch were relegated from Pro D2 in the 2013/14 season. Two years later, Stade Toulousain confirmed his signing ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.

A switch back would also be convenient personally. Castres and Toulouse are only around an hour apart, meaning Dupont would not even need to relocate.

Leinster have built a reputation for bringing in elite players on short-term sabbatical deals, and if Toulouse were relegated, a similar arrangement for Dupont could make sense before a possible return.

Recent signings such as Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane show the Irish province are willing to use this strategy to strengthen their squad.

With Jamison Gibson-Park moving into the later stages of his career, Leinster would almost certainly welcome the chance to add a player of Dupont’s quality, even on a temporary basis.

As a known PSG supporter, Paris-based Racing 92 could be an attractive option for Dupont. The club would likely be capable of matching his salary expectations while also offering the appeal of living and playing in the French capital.

Currently sitting seventh in the league, Racing could view a signing of this magnitude as the spark needed to return to the top level of French and European rugby.

The club has fallen short in three Champions Cup finals in recent years, and Dupont could be the player capable of finally delivering the European title they have been chasing.