Argentine Court Upholds Dismissal of Rape Charges Against French Rugby Players

Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou were cleared of aggravated rape allegations due to insufficient evidence, though the plaintiff's lawyer plans to pursue further legal recourse.

A Mendoza appellate court unanimously upheld the December 2024 ruling dismissing aggravated rape charges against French rugby players Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou.
The court cited a lack of substantial evidence to support the allegations, which stemmed from an incident during the XV de France's July 2024 tour in Argentina.
The players, aged 21, had been accused of assaulting a 39-year-old woman in a hotel room following a night of drinking after a match against Argentina.
The plaintiff's lawyer, dissatisfied with the ruling, has vowed to exhaust all legal avenues, including appeals to Argentina's Supreme Court and possibly the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Jegou and Auradou, who resumed playing professionally in France last fall, have rejoined the national team for the Six Nations tournament following the legal resolution.