Two players from the French XV in the sights of the Argentine justice system. In the middle of a tour with the French team, Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou were arrested on Monday, July 8, by the Argentine police following a complaint of sexual violence. “There is an ongoing investigation”confirmed the president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), Florian Grill, on Monday evening. Franceinfo takes stock of what we know about this affair.
Investigation opened for “aggravated sexual assault”
The French XV is currently in Argentina for a series of test matches, with a largely rejuvenated group and without its main players, left to rest. According to information from local media MDZ, a young woman filed a complaint for sexual violence committed on the night of Saturday to Sunday, a few hours after the victory of the Blues against the Pumas, at the Diplomatic Hotel in Mendoza, where the players and staff were staying. “There is a lot of genetic evidence”the office of the lawyer representing the victim told the newspaper.
“The complainant’s statement was lengthy, with many details about what happened during the evening.”specified to The Team Daniela Chaler, chief prosecutor for crimes against physical integrity. “She was immediately examined by a forensic pathologist who found injuries.” After what “It was decided to open an investigation into the crime of aggravated sexual assault and to order detention”she added. The prosecutor spoke on Tuesday about ““lesions” Who “are consistent with the victim’s story”, “but not necessarily exclusively from sexual assault.”
Victoria Alvarez, a lawyer at the Paris and Buenos Aires bars, quoted by Rugbyrama, specifies that if the facts of aggravated sexual violence are retained, this would correspond to what is defined in France as “aggravated rape”. The sentences incurred could thus range from 6 to 15 years in prison, she specifies, adding that if “serious damage” are reflected “on the mental or physical health of the victim”the penalties could reach “from eight to twenty years old” from prison.
Two young players implicated
The two players concerned are Pau second row Hugo Auradou, 20, and Stade Rochelais third row Oscar Jegou, 21, who played in the match against the Pumas in Mendoza. Traveling to Buenos Aires on Monday, they were questioned in their hotel before being taken to the police station, the two dailies report. “A commission from the province of Mendoza is going to Buenos Aires to bring them [à Mendoza] and carry out appropriate investigative actions”said Martin Ahumada, spokesman for the Mendoza prosecutor’s office. “If the results match the victim’s testimony, the indictment will be issued.”he continued.
Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou were crowned world champions in 2023, in the under-20 category. Oscar Jegou was suspended in the fall of 2023 by the French Anti-Doping Agency, following a positive test for cocaine. He had explained that he had taken this substance in a festive setting, which the agency had confirmed, recalls The Dispatch. For his part, Hugo Auradou is the son of the former international second row David Auradou; he joined the Pau training center in 2020. Quickly promoted to captain of the Espoirs, he began his professional career at 18 with the Section paloise.
The Federation denounces “incredibly serious” facts
“If the facts are true, they are incredibly serious”reacted the boss of the FFR, Florian Grill, who is on site with the French XV. “We must spare a thought for the young woman. It is the opposite of everything that rugby is, everything that rugby does, everything that rugby builds (…) but we must let the investigation, which is necessary, take place”he added. “If the investigation establishes the facts alleged, they constitute an unspeakable atrocity. My thoughts are with the victim.”wrote Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the Minister of Sports, on the social network on Tuesday morning X.
Mathieu Giudicelli, general director of Provale, the national rugby players’ union, spoke on franceinfo “his full support for the alleged victim”. He also says “sentenced[r] all forms of violence against women”In a message published on X, the Pau Section refused to make any comment, “pending more precise information from the French Rugby Federation and the initial conclusions of the ongoing investigation”. Same reaction from Stade Rochelais, Oscar Jegou’s club, which abstained “of any comment”, “in the total absence of direct information on the procedure in progress”, in a press release.
In another press release, published on Tuesday evening, the French Rugby Federation announced that the president of the FFR, Florian Grill, and its vice-president, Jean-Marc Lhermet, had met the two players. “They confirmed having had sexual relations with the young woman during the night but firmly denied any form of violence.”writes the instance. “For the time being, the investigation is continuing.” And “The Federation is currently awaiting hearings with the alleged victim and the players”adds the FFR.
“For the group, for the delegation, it was experienced as a trauma, a form of shock when we heard the news and when the police arrived at the hotel in Buenos Aires. It was a very difficult day, very, very hard. A very difficult time to live through.”reacted the coach of the French XV, Fabien Galthié, on Tuesday evening.
A “dramatic chain of events” for the French XV
After their victory Saturday in Mendoza, the Blues were due to leave in full force on Tuesday for Montevideo, Uruguay, to play another test match against Les Teros, then return to Buenos Aires to challenge Argentina again on Saturday. A very tight schedule, which forced the Argentine justice system to take rapid measures before the players left the country, according to MDZ. Considering the risk of flight high, given the facts and the sentence incurred, the Argentine public prosecutor issued an international arrest warrant, specifies The Team.
The arrest of the two players also comes the day after another affair: the sidelining of the tour and the sending back to France of the full-back Melvyn Jaminet, after racist remarks in a video published on Sunday and for which he said he was “ashamed”. “Rugby is anecdotal, everything else is secondary. The sequence is dramatic”recognized Florian Grill from Buenos Aires.