Two France rugby players accused of harassment
Two international rugby players from France have been arrested in Argentina following allegations of sexual assault. The two players, Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou, were detained in Buenos Aires and will be transported to Mendoza, where the reported crime occurred. France's rugby squad is currently touring South America. This is prepared by SSP.
The arrests were made after the French team's stay in Mendoza, following their recent Test win against Argentina. Both Jegou and Auradou made their international debuts during that match. The allegations are incredibly serious, according to French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill, who mentioned that they would await the results of the investigation.
The Mendoza prosecutor's office has stated that a commission will be sent to Buenos Aires for further investigation. The spokesperson mentioned that if the evidence aligns with the victim's testimony, an indictment will be issued.
Oscar Jegou, a back row player for the French club La Rochelle, and Hugo Auradou, a lock for club side Pau, were part of France's U20 World Championship-winning team in 2023. The French Rugby Federation has been contacted for comment regarding the situation.
These arrests come shortly after full-back Melvyn Jaminet was suspended by the federation for posting a video on social media containing a racist comment. Jaminet, a player for Toulon, shared the video on his Instagram account after playing in the victory against Argentina. Despite deleting the video, it was widely circulated, leading to Jaminet being sent home from the tour. He expressed deep apologies and regret for his comments.
France is scheduled to play Uruguay in Montevideo before returning to Buenos Aires for a second Test match against Argentina. The incident involving the two arrested players adds additional complexity to the team's tour of South America.