Major League Rugby: Five takeaways as Antoine Dupont move ‘invaluable’ to US longer term while ex-Highlanders star helps Old Glory to perfect week

Major League Rugby: Antoine Dupont move 'invaluable' to US longer term : Planet Rugby

There are now just three more weekends until the Major League Rugby (MLR) regular season is over.

In Week 14 there was drama from start to finish, with surprise wins for Rugby Football Club Los Angeles, Miami Sharks and Seattle Seawolves throwing things up in the air dramatically.

But along with the action on the pitch, there has even been some developments off it as a major name has joined an MLR team’s ownership panel.

Dupont joins Los Angeles ownership group

On Thursday night Rugby Football Club Los Angeles announced that 2021 World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year, Antoine Dupont, had joined the team’s ownership group.

It is a major boon for the second-year team, who became the first MLR side to take on Super Rugby opposition earlier this year and lost out 33-26 to Fijian Drua in Lautoka.

Dupont, who is currently recovering from an ACL injury sustained in this year’s Six Nations, joins All Blacks and NFL legends Ma’a Nonu, Marshawn Lynch and Nate Ebner in adding a minority stake in an MLR team to their portfolio.

At the end of this year’s Six Nations, Dupont was snapped wearing an RFCLA cap at the Stade de France, with the 28-year-old now looking to guide the Western Conference side from afar in the years to come.

“We feel very privileged that Antoine has chosen RFCLA as the pathway to inspire new rugby players and fans and to join us in growing a global rugby brand,” Pete Sickle, RFCLA’s CEO, said.

France captain Dupont joins RFCLA ownership in boost for U.S. game | Reuters

“He is as dedicated to expanding the rugby community as he is to compete on the pitch and his vision for integrating the athleticism and core values of rugby will prove invaluable to building a bright future for rugby in LA and throughout the US.”

Old Glory bag two wins in a week

Two games in the space of five days have resulted in 10 points for Old Glory DC.

Those results now have Simon Cross’ team second in the Eastern Conference and really boosted their odds of making the playoffs this June.