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Two French rugby players charged with raping woman in Argentina

Gillberg
Two French rugby players charged with raping woman in Argentina

Two French rugby players charged with raping woman in Argentina
French rugby players Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou are being held in custody in Argentina (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Two French national rugby players have been charged with raping a woman in Argentina.

Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou are suspected of taking the woman to their hotel in the city of Mendoza and sexually abusing her after France’s victory over Argentina on Saturday.

She claims she was repeatedly raped and beaten by 21-year-old Jegou and 20-year-old Auradou, who prevented her from walking for several hours.

The couple were arrested earlier this week on suspicion of aggravated rape and Argentine prosecutors filed charges against them today.

Jegou and Auradou, who declined to testify at a hearing, say they had consensual sex with the woman and deny rape.

The public prosecutor in Mendoza ordered that both men remain in custody pending trial, AP reports.

It is alleged that the attack took place at the Diplomatic Hotel, where the players and staff of the French national team were staying during their South American tour.

The couple were arrested after an alleged sexual assault in a hotel in the city of Mendoza (Image: Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)
The couple were arrested after an alleged sexual assault in a hotel in the city of Mendoza (Image: Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)
Jegou and Auradou were seen arriving at a correctional facility in Mendoza yesterday (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Jegou and Auradou were seen arriving at a correctional facility in Mendoza yesterday (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Natacha Romano, the victim’s lawyer, says the woman met the players in a nightclub and was later “subjected to violent, non-consensual sexual acts and prevented from leaving the club.”

Ms Romano added that after escaping the room, she filed a police report and underwent a physical examination.

She said the woman was also admitted to hospital yesterday with physical and mental complaints and is now receiving treatment.

In Argentina, charges of aggravated sexual assault carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a minimum of eight years.

Lawyer Natacha Romano claims the victim was beaten, sexually abused and prevented from leaving the hotel room (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Lawyer Natacha Romano, center, claims the victim was beaten, sexually abused and prevented from leaving the hotel room (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
German Hnatow, the French rugby players' lawyer, says they claim the sex was consensual (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
German Hnatow, the French rugby players’ lawyer, says they claim the sex was consensual (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The players’ lawyers said they were confident in their version of events and claimed the “sexual relations” were consensual.

“They are confident in their version and calm because they know they are innocent,” said German Hnatow today.

“But of course they are worried about the whole situation they had to go through.”

Mariano Cuneo Libarona said on Wednesday: “There are witnesses who saw them leaving (the hotel). There are cameras that saw them leaving. There do not appear to be any injuries in the footage.”

Lawyer Mariano Cuneo Libarona also defends the players (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Lawyer Mariano Cuneo Libarona also defends the players (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Frenchman Hugo Auradou takes part in a training session in San Isidro, in the Argentine province of Buenos Aires, on June 28, 2024. The American tour takes a bitter turn: following the racist comments of Melvyn Jaminet, two new players of Les Bleus, Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou, were accused of sexual assault and arrested by the Argentine police on July 8, 2024, AFP learns from a judicial source. (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO / AFP) (Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)
Frenchman Hugo Auradou during a training session in Argentina, two weeks before he was arrested on suspicion of rape (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Oscar Jegou, who plays as a flanker, has also been charged (Image: Tomas Cuesta/AFP via Getty Images)
Oscar Jegou, who plays as a flanker, has also been charged (Image: Tomas Cuesta/AFP via Getty Images)

Florian Gill, president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), who is in Argentina, told AFP that the players had “a completely different version of events”.

He said: “We are not judges. We are not investigators. But we think that the Argentine judiciary should look into the case very quickly.”

After a 28-13 victory last time, France will face Argentina again on Saturday in Buenos Aires.

Flanker Jegou and lock Auradou, who both made their debuts against the Pumas last weekend, have been replaced in the squad by Judicael Cancoriet and Mickael Guillard respectively.

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