Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou Face Aggravated Rape Charges

Hugo Auradou, 20 and Oscar Jegou, 21, face charges of aggravated rape of a 39-year-old woman in Argentina following a match. The incident allegedly took place in a hotel room in Mendoza after France defeated Argentina. The woman accuses them of raping her multiple times and subjecting her to violence, resulting in injuries to her face, back, breasts, legs and ribs, along with bite and scratch marks. She reported that they held her against her will for several hours.

Auradou and Jegou maintain that their sexual encounter with the woman was consensual and deny the rape accusations. They chose not to testify during a recent hearing and are in custody while authorities investigate. The woman’s lawyer stated that her client needed hospitalization due to emotional and physical distress following the incident.

Lawyers for the players assert their innocence, citing witnesses and surveillance footage that allegedly show the woman leaving the hotel without visible injuries. Florian Gill, president of the French Rugby Federation emphasized that the players offer a different account of the events and urged Argentine authorities to conduct a swift investigation.

In response to the situation, Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou have been replaced by other players for the upcoming match against Argentina in Buenos Aires. The case has garnered significant media attention and concern due to its serious nature and the conflicting claims from both sides involved.