Two French international rugby players, Hugo Auradou (20) and Oscar Jegou (21), have been charged with the aggravated rape of a woman in Argentina following a match between France and Argentina. The South American country’s prosecutors revealed that the incident allegedly occurred after France’s victory on Saturday.
The 39-year-old woman claims that the players raped her multiple times and physically assaulted her in a hotel room in Mendoza. Both players, who chose “not to testify” at a hearing, assert that the encounter was consensual and deny any wrongdoing. They remain in custody as the investigation continues.
The alleged incident took place at the Diplomatic Hotel, where the French team was staying during their South American tour. The woman’s lawyer, Ms. Romano, stated that her client left a nightclub with one of the men and accompanied him to the hotel room, where she was allegedly raped “at least six times” by one man and once by the other. The lawyer also reported that the woman suffered “fierce” violence, resulting in injuries to her face, back, breasts, legs, and ribs, along with multiple bite and scratch marks.
Ms. Romano added that her client was held against her will for several hours and attempted to escape multiple times. The woman sought hospital treatment on Thursday due to emotional and physical distress and is currently receiving care at a health facility.
A lawyer representing the players expressed confidence in their version of events. “They are well and sure of their version, they are calm because they know they are innocent, but of course they are worried about this whole situation that they have had to live through,” said German Hnatow.
Another lawyer, Mariano Cuneo Libarona, suggested that the “sexual relations” were consensual, citing witnesses and camera footage showing the woman leaving the hotel without visible injuries.
French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Florian Gill, who is in Argentina, commented on the situation, stating that the players have “quite a different version of events” and urged the Argentine justice system to expedite the investigation.
Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, Mr. Auradou and Mr. Jegou have been replaced by Mickael Guillard and Judicael Cancoriet for the second match against Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Credit: BBC Sport
