Judge to Proceed with Key Hearing in Auradou-Jegou Case After Recusal Request Rejected

The Argentine court upheld Judge Eleonora Arenas' role in the case, with a non-lieu hearing scheduled for Monday that could potentially dismiss charges against the French rugby players.

The Argentine judiciary rejected a second request by the plaintiff's lawyers to recuse Judge Eleonora Arenas, citing alleged concerns over impartiality.
Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, French rugby players accused of aggravated group sexual assault, have consistently denied the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual.
The alleged incident occurred in July 2024 in Mendoza, Argentina, following a match between France and Argentina, after which the players were briefly detained and later allowed to return to France in September.
A non-lieu hearing is set for Monday, where the judge will decide whether to dismiss the case; the plaintiff's legal team has indicated plans to appeal if the charges are dropped.
If the non-lieu is confirmed on appeal, it would result in the definitive closure of the case and the full exoneration of the accused players.