French Rugby Stars Detained in Argentina Amid Allegations

French rugby internationals, Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou have been arrested in Argentina following allegations that they sexually assaulted a woman. Authorities detained the players, aged 21 and 20 respectively, in Buenos Aires and are arranging their transfer to Mendoza. Their lawyer, Rafael Cuneo Libarona stated that both men deny the accusations.

The incident occurred while the French national team was on a tour of South America, staying in Mendoza after they defeated Argentina 28-13 in a Test match where Jegou and Auradou made their international debuts. French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and pledged to await the results of the investigation.

The Mendoza prosecutor’s office has dispatched a commission to Buenos Aires to conduct investigative actions. Martin Ahumada, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, indicated that if the findings align with the victim’s testimony, they will issue formal charges.

French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera condemned the alleged actions, describing them as unacceptable if proven true. She has been in communication with the French Rugby Federation and the French embassy in Argentina regarding the matter.

Jegou plays as a back row for La Rochelle, while Auradou is a lock for Pau; both were part of France’s Under-20 World Championship-winning team in 2023. Their clubs, La Rochelle and Pau have refrained from commenting until more details emerge about the ongoing legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, the French Rugby Federation has decided that Grill and high-performance vice-chairman Jean-Marc Lhermet will remain in Argentina to support Jegou and Auradou, while the rest of the squad proceeds to Uruguay for their upcoming match. This decision follows the recent suspension of full-back Melvyn Jaminet for a racist social media post after the Argentina match.