Antoine Dupont Spotted at Apple Park – What Was He Up To?

French talents seem to be quite appreciated at Apple Park. Not only was Mathieu Forget there for an aerial photo shoot, but Tim Cook also met with one of France’s top sports figures, Antoine Dupont. Now we know what this athlete was doing just before the keynote!

Is Tim Cook Becoming a Rugby Enthusiast?

Indeed, the rugby player from Stade Toulousain was present at Apple’s headquarters for a brief exchange with the tech giant’s CEO. This meeting occurred early in the month, just before the September 9 keynote, and was prominently featured in the sports daily L’Équipe—something quite usual for Antoine Dupont but less so for Tim Cook.

Among many guests, the scrum-half was even given a special seat at the Steve Jobs Theater, where he could enjoy the unveiling of the iPhone 17 right in the heart of Silicon Valley. After all, as the sports newspaper pointed out, being an Olympic champion and having been named the best rugby player in the world in 2021 certainly opens doors, even in the United States.

During his privileged conversation with Tim Cook, he presented a special edition Stade Toulousain jersey with Tim’s name on the back and another from the French national team.

Sports and Health

Antoine Dupont’s visit to California was certainly not just for tourism. He has invested in a franchise, the Rugby Football Club Los Angeles, and is eyeing—among other things—the men’s and women’s World Rugby Cups in 2031 and 2033.

Clearly, Tim Cook is new to a rugby culture that Americans have yet to fully embrace, yet he is full of praise. Antoine Dupont does things very well without my advice. I’m not sure I have much to add. What has helped me [in my career] is listening. I believe we should all listen more than we speak. If we do that and surround ourselves with brilliant and passionate people, it’s amazing what we can learn.

As is often the case with Tim Cook, the conversation quickly shifted from sports to health, a field he knows much more about (he took the opportunity to discuss the health legacy he intends to leave with Apple). Health was also a topic concerning the rugby player whose return is eagerly awaited in Toulouse. He reassured everyone about his movements; he is still recovering from a knee injury (anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee in Ireland last March)!