French Rugby Players Charged with Aggravated Rape in Argentina

Two French international rugby players, Hugo Auradou, 20, and Oscar Jegou, 21, have been charged with the aggravated rape of a 39-year-old woman in Argentina, following a match against Argentina. Prosecutors in Argentina announced the charges, with the incident allegedly occurring after France’s victory on Saturday. The woman claims that the players raped and assaulted her multiple times in a hotel room in Mendoza.

Auradou and Jegou, who opted not to testify at a hearing, assert that the encounter was consensual and deny the rape accusations. They will remain in custody as the investigation continues.

The incident reportedly took place at the Diplomatic Hotel, where the French team was staying during their South American tour. According to the woman’s lawyer, she left a nightclub with one of the men and went to his hotel room, where she alleges she was raped six times by one man and once by the other. The woman described suffering severe violence, including injuries to her face, back, breasts, legs, and ribs, along with bite and scratch marks. She also stated that she was held against her will for several hours and made multiple escape attempts. She sought hospital treatment on Thursday due to the emotional and physical impact of the incident.

The players’ lawyer, German Hnatow, expressed confidence in their innocence, stating they are calm but concerned about the situation. Another lawyer, Mariano Cuneo Libarona, indicated that there are witnesses and camera footage showing the woman leaving the hotel without visible injuries. The French Rugby Federation president, Florian Gill, also noted that the players have a different version of events and emphasized the need for a swift investigation by the Argentine justice system.

Auradou and Jegou have been replaced by Mickael Guillard and Judicael Cancoriet for the upcoming match against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

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