Last week, pictures emerged of Antoine Dupont training with the France Sevens squad.
While we've had the news that the biggest star in world rugby is to forsake a Six Nations campaign and Toulouse club duties to help his country’s bid for Olympic gold for the last few months, it still takes a lot of getting used to.
The code is on an upward curve in this country, with both the men and women’s side also heading for Paris, but it’s still in its infancy and is not comparable to the real thing in terms of popularity.
The 27-year-old former World Rugby player of the year’s decision to opt out of Les Bleus for a spell remains momentous. But after the crushing disappointment of a World Cup quarter-final loss to the Springboks, Dupont is determined to taste glory on French soil.
Before he bids au revoir to the XVs for a while he’s got some business to take care of in Belfast.
And he’s no stranger to the Kingspan, having spoiled the Ulster party here two years ago.
Dupont scored the winning try as Ugo Mola’s side edged an epic two-legged tussle by one point. The aggregate score was 50-49 as Toulouse struck with five minutes to play.
Ulster, having recorded a famous 26-20 win in Le Stadium in the first leg, were left devastated by the late twist in the tale.
"He ruined our night basically on his own with a brilliant display of kicking and a couple of breaks that led to tries," Ulster boss Dan McFarland said this week.
It still hurts. And why wouldn’t it? Ulster appeared to be in control but soon after his introduction, Tom O’Toole was sent off and they had to play with 14 men for the last 15 minutes.
Before that we were treated to one of the great European games with two early yellow cards; a stunning try from Ethan McIlroy, and two tries from distance by Thomas Ramos and Romain Ntamack. And that was just the first half.
"Just ridiculous," was how pundit Stephen Ferris described some of the action.
Trailing by six on aggregate with five minutes to play, Dupont stuck the knife in and Toulouse progressed.
Anything half as good tonight will be a treat.
Toulouse are two from two coming into the game and top of Pool 2. Having accounted for Cardiff and Harlequins, they have Bath at home next weekend. Progress is more or less assured.
Ulster, meanwhile, have taken five points from their two fixtures to date: a forgettable trip to Bath and a memorable home win over Racing 92 that came with a bonus point.
A month ago it was World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi who laced his boots up at the Kingspan and the mere presence of Dupont will excite a sold-out stadium.
The French visitors also have big names in Ramos, Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, François Cros and Anthony Jelonch in their starting XV.
The Kingspan faithful can’t say they aren’t getting their money’s worth.
"I will have a very busy year but I love that, I’m excited for it," Dupont told the BBC in December. "I will have to work a lot to be competitive in all the competitions.
"The last time [playing rugby sevens] was under-18, I think, but it is the same sport and there are a lot of things similar.
"I will have to do my best. I have a lot of calls with the coach to try to learn some skills, and I will try to learn by watching the game.
"Yes, it's hard [to miss the Six Nations], but I have to make choices unfortunately."
Beaten semi-finalists in the last two seasons, Dupont will be determined to leave Toulouse, five-time winners, in the best shape possible for the knock-out stages.
"When you lose a competition you want to do another thing to try to win again," said Dupont, a try-scorer in last weekend's 45-0 victory over Lyon.
"The Champions Cup is always a special competition for us, and I think we saw the last two weeks that we are very motivated for this competition."
For Ulster, boasting their own double World Cup winner in Steven Kitshoff, this game is a superb opportunity to add ballast to their trophy claims.
After taking care of Racing in impressive fashion, they edged out both Connacht, and Leinster away, in the festive URC derbies.
If they add the current Top14 champions to the list that includes French league leaders Racing and URC table-toppers Leinster, then there’ll be no more high grass to hide in. They’ll have a genuine shot at silverware.
Not least because John Cooney, Iain Henderson and Nick Timoney are close to, if not at their best. Jacob Stockdale is improving every game, and Robert Baloucoune and Billy Burns are threats all the time.
Speaking on the RTÉ Rugby podcast this week, former Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman reckoned this match-up comes at a perfect time for the 1999 champions.
"This is huge for them, great performance against Racing...they came in very much underdogs against Leinster but put together a really good performance.
"Steven Kitshoff [at a promotional event this week] was saying that when he signed for Ulster, Dan was saying, 'we’re not a million miles away, we are used to getting to play-offs but we need to find that little bit extra to go and win a trophy, the URC like the Stormers or Munster’.
"His role is to try and help them get there, on and off the field.
"They got massive belief out of that Leinster game. He was telling me that the Toulouse game sold out the next morning. That extra bit of belief of hype helped to sell out Ravenhill quickly. The players are talking about how good it’s going to be, hosting Toulouse.
"They’ve done a great job on a star-studded French team in Racing. They are excited about the opportunity and maybe they didn’t have that excitement.
"They seemed to be sleep-walking a little bit in the early rounds of the URC but that Leinster win has hopefully given them that extra life and stimulus and confidence to go and play."
While there is a lack of jeopardy in this match-up, with defeat not fatal for either side, but that shouldn't equal a lack of effort.
The teams, meeting for the 14th time and the fifth in the last three and a half years, are building up quite the rivalry and a boisterous Belfast crowd will play their part in a game set to be played in freezing conditions.
Dupont has made plans for his spring break. When his Les Bleus team-mates are hosting Italy in round three of the championship, he'll be busy in Vancouver before heading to Los Angeles the week after.
This summer could bring gold.
"I don't see how one of the most gifted players of his generation could not adapt," said Mola this week about the impending departure of his star man.
His magic will be missed over the next few months so let's enjoy him while we can.
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