Oscar Jégou and Hugo Auradou will probably start this weekend. Not with the Blues, but respectively with La Rochelle and Pau for the return of the Top 14. Far from the French team, for the moment, a little more than four months after being charged with aggravated rape in the middle of the Blues tour in Argentina and Uruguay. The two players, who spent a few weeks in preventive detention, are now waiting for a hearing, postponed indefinitely, to study their request for dismissal.
Since this disastrous tour of South America, French Rugby has decided to be self-critical, and has tried to put in place safeguards so that such an affair does not happen again. The XV of France has thus established a new living environment, with a charter of commitment to be signed by any player wishing to wear the rooster jersey.
No control over players
Some Top 14 clubs have also decided to take measures to combat cocaine, notably the UBB which will subject its players to drug tests by drawing lots. But, in Argentina, which France meets this Friday evening at the Stade de France (9:10 p.m.), has this Jégou-Auradou affair also allowed changes in the selection and local clubs? “Obviously, here we followed it closely and that’s still the case, but in terms of the selection, it didn’t have much impact,” replies Nicolas Casanova, journalist at The Nation.
Neither for clubs. When contacted, around ten of them, like the Argentine Rugby Federation, did not respond to our requests. “There are no rules that have been strictly established in the clubs, knowing that they are amateurs,” explains Agustin Vicario, co-founder of Rugbeat and speaker on Fox Sports Argentina. Clubs ultimately have little control over their players; they do not sign contracts with them. Obviously they require a certain responsibility, but then everyone does what they want with their life. »
“No scandal like in France”
The internal rules of clubs are also little made public. The only notable change this year, Agustin Vicario tells us, is the arrival in certain Argentinian clubs of Michelob Ultra. This is not the South American version of a French “comedian” or the latest tire from the Auvergne factory, but a beer from the Quilmes brand. Its particularity: an alcohol level of 2% instead of 7%, to be consumed in moderation.
“But there has never been a scandal like there was in France, on the subject of alcohol,” says Nicolas Casanova. In the locker room, it's allowed, but in general, Argentina has good behavior internally. » According to our two specialists, the country of Juan Martin Hernandez and Ignacio Corleto has not had, until now, any cases of sexual assault committed by rugby players on the sidelines of third halves which degenerated. “Only a few fights between men, but nothing else known, neither in the clubs nor among the Pumas,” estimates Agustin Vicario.
The racist tweets scandal
The last scandal concerning the Argentine selection dates back to 2020, with racist tweets coming to the surface a few years later from three players, including captain Pablo Matera and UBB second row Guido Petti. “Unlike the Jégou-Auradou affair, this one had an impact on Argentine rugby and the Pumas. It was like a theme of the company. Everyone started to judge rugby, to find out if it was an elitist sport… It came a week after Maradona's death, the Pumas had not paid tribute to him, that's why they were judged . »
The three players were suspended as a precautionary measure (two days) and Pablo Matera lost his role as captain. He still kept his place in the selection just like Guido Petti, the two players will also start against the Blues this Friday. “I don’t know if after this event, it caused changes in the Pumas’ rules of life, but I don’t think so,” speculates the journalist from The Nation. We just hope that the starting point for a new living environment or collective awareness will not come through an event more serious than misuse of social networks.
