France skipper Dupont to miss Nations Championship

France skipper Antoine Dupont will not play in any of the upcoming Nations Championship matches, the French rugby federation announced Monday.

Dupont was a key part of the Toulouse squad that wrapped a fourth consecutive Top 14 title with victory over Montpellier on Saturday.

Already unavailable for the opening Nations Championship match against New Zealand on July 4, the federation said the scrum-half will now also miss following games against Australia on July 11 and Japan a week later.

Dupont will be replaced in the squad by his Toulouse teammate Paul Graou.

There was no reason given as to why Dupont will not make the trip for the inaugural competition that pitches teams from the northern hemisphere against their southern counterparts.

After six rounds, three each in July and November, the competition will climax with six matches at Twickenham in late November to determine final placings.