Ten weeks later, Auradou and Jégou set foot in France again

At Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle

Back, 58 days later. About twenty journalists had made the trip and were waiting for them in front of the last gate of Terminal 2E at Roissy. A special area for journalists had even been set up. But Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jégou did not leave through this exit reserved for all passengers. They did indeed set foot in France this Wednesday at the end of the afternoon, but they took a secret exit, far from the press, cameras and photo cameras. The lawyers later confirmed to Europe 1 that the two players had left the airport. A discreet return, while their arrival was closely scrutinized.

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A desire to keep a low profile, as confirmed by their lawyer, Me Antoine Vey, mentioning “a phase of media diet” to come for his two clients. Charged with the rape of a 39-year-old woman, the two French international rugby players were authorized to leave Argentina on Tuesday, and they took an Air France flight at 11:50 p.m. and landed at Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle at exactly 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, ten weeks after leaving France.

The Pau second-row and the La Rochelle third-row were arrested in Buenos Aires on July 8, two days after the match won by the French XV against Argentina (28-13) in Mendoza. A complaint had been filed by a 39-year-old Argentinian woman for alleged sexual assault, on the night of the 6th to the 7th in their hotel room in Mendoza. Auradou and Jégou claim that the sexual relations with the complainant were consensual and they deny any violence, while the complainant’s lawyer denounced “terrible violence” about your client “savagely beaten”.

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This return to France of the two rugby players is accompanied by several “rules”. They must appear if summoned to the Argentine consulate in France, be heard virtually “as often as required” and they may have to return to Mendoza “if this is asked of them.” The request for dismissal, which was filed by the players’ lawyers last week, must now be examined by the courts. And Me Cuneo Libarona has “no doubt we will get it in about 10 business days.”

On Tuesday, the two French internationals were given the green light to leave Argentina during a hearing (in their absence) at the Mendoza court. The justice system followed the recommendations of the prosecution, according to which the accusation “lost its initial strength.” At the hearing, the prosecution “did not object”the Mendoza court said in a statement. “This is a horror film that should never have existed. This should never have happened, no complaints should have been filed.”their lawyer in Argentina, Cuneo Libarona, had declared.

The question now is when the two players – after the time of reunions with their families and loved ones – will return to training with their respective clubs, while the Top 14 resumes this weekend. Me Antoine Vey, their lawyer in France, suggests that “From now on, we will have to win the fight for their media rehabilitation, which involves their return to the sports fields and high-level competition.” Stade Rochelais has declared itself “relieved and impatient to find Oscar in La Rochelle in the next few hours. We are calmly awaiting the next hearing which will allow us to prove their innocence, of which we have been convinced since the first days.” For its part, the Paloise Section “welcomed with joy and relief the return to French territory of his second line Hugo Auradou. This is a further step towards the recognition of his innocence.”