French Rugby Players Arrested In Argentina Over Alleged Sexual Assault
Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou have been detained in Buenos Aires over alleged sexual assault in Mendoza, Argentina.
Two French rugby internationals have been arrested in Argentina following allegations of sexual assault.
Oscar Jegou, aged 21, and Hugo Auradou, aged 20, were apprehended in Buenos Aires on Monday and will be taken to Mendoza, where local reports allege the incident occurred involving a woman.
France is currently on a tour of South America.
The French squad stayed in Mendoza on Saturday night after their 28-13 Test victory against Argentina, during which both players made their international debuts.
Florian Grill, president of the French Rugby Federation, told reporters, “If the allegations are proven true, they are extremely serious. We will await the outcome of the investigation.”
Martin Ahumada, a spokesperson for the Mendoza prosecutor’s office, informed AFP news agency that a team was travelling to Buenos Aires to conduct “investigative procedures” and that “if the findings corroborate the victim’s account, charges will be filed.”
The arrests occurred two days after full-back Melvyn Jaminet was suspended by the federation for posting a video on social media containing a racist remark.
Jaminet, who plays for Toulon, uploaded the video on his Instagram following the match against Argentina.
Despite deleting the video, it quickly spread across social media platforms, leading to the 25-year-old being sent home from the tour.
Jaminet expressed deep remorse, saying, “I am profoundly sorry and embarrassed by my remarks.”
France will face Uruguay in Montevideo on Wednesday before returning to Buenos Aires for a second Test against Argentina.
Two French rugby players arrested in Argentina over sexual assault allegations
France’s national rugby team was hit by another scandal when two unidentified players were arrested in Argentina over sexual assault allegations. The team, currently on a South American tour, lost its full-back, Melvyn Jaminet, earlier this week after he was suspended for posting racist comments on social media.
Two members of France’s international rugby team touring South America were arrested in Argentina on Monday following an allegation of sexual assault, a justice official in Mendoza province told AFP.
The two unidentified players, who featured in France’s 28-13 Test victory over Argentina on Saturday, will be taken from Buenos Aires to Mendoza, where the crime is alleged to have taken place, Martin Ahumanda, a spokesman for the Mendoza’s prosecutor’s office, told AFP.
According to local media reports, the alleged attack took place at the Diplomatic Hotel in Mendoza, where France’s players and staff were staying for last weekend’s Test match.
Local prosecutors requested the immediate arrest of the two players following the allegation.
France are due to travel to Montevideo on Tuesday where they face a game against Uruguay on Wednesday. The team is then due to return to Buenos Aires for a second Test against Argentina on Saturday.
The French Rugby Federation (FFR) did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
The arrests come a day after a racism scandal that saw France fullback Melvyn Jaminet ousted from the squad in Argentina.
