“They will potentially be eligible to play again”: the French Rugby Federation reacts to the dismissal of the Jegou-Auradou case

Rugby players Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou are once again “selectable” to play with the French XV, the French Rugby Federation announced on Tuesday, December 10, following the decision by the Argentine courts to dismiss the rape charges against them.

“If their sporting performances allow it, they will potentially be selectable to play again for the French team”, indicates a press release from the federation, which says it welcomes the judicial decision “with relief and satisfaction”. Both players have one selection for the French national team, played just before their arrest in Argentina in July.

Auradou and Jegou, 21, were prosecuted for aggravated rape, committed in a group during the night of July 6 to 7 in a hotel in Mendoza where the French XV had just played a match against Argentina.

From the beginning, the Pau and La Rochelle players have maintained that the sexual relations with the complainant, a 39-year-old Argentinian, were consensual and without violence. The plaintiff's lawyer has always denounced rape with “terrible violence”.

A “clear” framework now around the French XV

The federation, with the clubs of the two players, “has deployed from the first days all the means at its disposal so that Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou can be defended fairly”, she said in the press release.

“These events, however, remind us of the need to create new conditions to prevent and avoid risky behavior in high-level rugby”, adds the federation, recalling the new framework put in place for the French teams in the fall.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Establishing a “clear” framework is a prerequisite for being able to sanction these behaviors, had defended the president of the federation Florian Grill during his campaign to be re-elected at the head of the FFR.

The press release from the French Rugby Federation

"The Argentine justice system, in accordance with the unanimous requisitions of the prosecutors, today pronounced a dismissal in favor of the players Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, thus recognizing their lack of guilt.

The French Rugby Federation welcomes this decision with relief and satisfaction.

If, as it expressed from the first day, the FFR wanted the complainant to be listened to, it has never stopped defending the presumption of innocence of the two players while trusting the Argentine justice system. This is why, in close collaboration with the families and with the clubs of Pau and La Rochelle, the French Rugby Federation has deployed from the first days all the means at its disposal so that Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou can be defended fairly and live in dignified and safe conditions, particularly in Buenos Aires and Mendoza.

With its decision, the Argentine justice system rehabilitates the two players. Also, if their sporting performances allow it, they will potentially be selectable to play again in the French team.

While the French Rugby Federation welcomes this decision, these events nevertheless remind us of the need to create new conditions to prevent and avoid risky behavior in high-level rugby, to train responsible and exemplary players, by drawing inspiration from the 60,000 volunteers and 2,000 amateur rugby clubs who work every day to create social ties and play an educational and civic role as well as a sporting one. The reinforced rugby performance plan, coordinated by the FFR and whose actions are currently being implemented, aims to meet these requirements."