La crainte la plus grande : Antoine Dupont annonce sa démission et son départ du club 2 minutes plus tard en raison de…

His club Toulouse, the FFR and Dupont are set to hold a press conference on Monday, 250 days from the start of the Games, when they are expected to announce Dupont’s intentions.

As far back as last December, Dupont opened the door to playing in the event, which first featured in the Olympics in 2016.

“It’s highly motivating,” Dupont told RTL.

“It’s incredible when you see the enthusiasm it can create. There is a desire from my side to put things in place for me to participate.

“It will be a discussion between the different coaching staffs,” he added.

A host of other leading 15-a-side players have featured at past Olympic Games including South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe and former New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams, who have both won the World Cup twice.

Fiji have won the two men’s gold medals since seven-a-side rugby was introduced into the Olympics with the longer format of the sport having last featured in 1924.

The absence of Dupont in the Six Nations will force France head coach Fabien Galthie to name a new captain and starting scrum-half for the Six Nations, which they start against Ireland on February 2.