The two French rugby players accused of rape have been released but are forced to remain in Argentina, announces the Mendoza prosecutor’s office

They will not be able to return to France. The two rugby players from the French XV, Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, accused of raping a woman in their hotel, on the night of Saturday 6 to Sunday 7 July, after a match of the French XV and of violence, are now free, announced the Mendoza prosecutor’s office on Monday 12 August. However, they are obliged to remain in Argentina while the investigation continues, specifies this source. After being imprisoned, the two rugby players were placed under house arrest since 17 July.

In early July, Mendoza’s attorney general, Daniela Chaler, stated that “the deposition [de la plaignante] was quite long, complete, detailed and corresponded, for the time being, to the forensic conclusions”. She adds that “the injuries are consistent with the victim’s account, but not necessarily exclusively the result of sexual assault”.

For their part, the two athletes have “confirmed having had sexual intercourse with the young woman during the night but (…) firmly denied any form of violence”according to a press release from the French Rugby Federation published at the beginning of July. These sexual relations were “consented”says their Argentinian lawyer Rafael Cuneo Libarona. After these hearings of more than five hours, he said on Thursday, August 8 “confident” in the fact that the French “will quickly regain freedom”.