Olympic star Dupont adds 'aura' as France seek to unseat Six Nations champions Ireland

France head coach Fabien Galthie said on Tuesday the return of captain Antoine Dupont brings an "aura" to the team before they embark on this year's Six Nations.

Scrumhalf Dupont missed last season's tournament as he converted to sevens rugby and then inspired Les Bleus to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics last year.

The 28-year-old poster boy came back to the 15-a-side game in October and has been a crucial part of Toulouse's roaring run to the last 16 of the Champions Cup, having won a domestic and continental double with the club last season.

"He's had a lot of success with Toulouse, he was Olympic champion with France's sevens team," Galthie told reporters at the Six Nations launch in Rome.

"He brings an aura with him which carries the French squad, which is important," the 55-year-old added.

Since his return to the longer format of the sport Dupont seems to have improved his game even further, cementing his position as one of rugby's leading players.

"I think in sevens you have to be good at every skill set," Dupont told reporters.

"I think the ruck is the most important thing I worked at in sevens."

In Dupont's absence, 2022's Six Nations champions France finished second in last year's edition despite suffering a chastening home defeat to eventual champions Ireland in Marseille and drawing with Italy in Lille.

Since then Galthie has taken his side on a scandal-hit tour of Argentina, where two players were arrested in a rape investigation that was later dismissed, and to an unbeaten November international series that included a Dupont-inspired victory over New Zealand.

Along with Ireland, Galthie's side are leading contenders for the Six Nations, which they open against Wales in Paris on January 31.

"It's quite a magical