“We are really proud of him”, the return of Jegou greeted by the public and his teammates

French international Oscar Jegou, still being prosecuted for rape in Argentina, returned to the field for the first time this season on Saturday with La Rochelle against Stade Français. A return welcomed by the public of Marcel-Deflandre and his teammates.

He was first treated to loud applause at the mention of his name during the presentation of the teams. Nothing comparable, however, with the standing ovation which accompanied his try scored on the hour mark. Visibly moved, he then responded to Marcel-Deflandre's audience with a heart with his hands. On Saturday, Oscar Jegou returned to the field for the first time since the outbreak of the “Mendoza affair”. Still being prosecuted for rape in Argentina, the French international started in Stade Rochelais' victory against Stade Français (35-18).

“We are really proud of him. He had a great match. Even though he has gone through difficult times in recent months, we have always been there for him. He must be proud of his performance too, because he is really a good player, and I hope he continues this momentum,” praised La Rochelle captain and three-quarterback Dillyn Leyds. Same observation from Donnacha Ryan, forward coach of the maritime club: “He's a great player. It's no surprise for us, we have the chance to see him in training every day. He is very lucid and he knows his role on the pitch well. The last three weeks, he has been very motivated and efficient thanks to his qualities. We hope that he can continue like this for the rest of the season.

“He really wanted to have a good match”

Jegou resumed training at the end of September, but his return to competition was delayed by his club, which had initially decided to wait for a decision to dismiss the case from the Argentine courts. The various postponements of the hearing, but also the shortage of third lines, have changed this position. “Oscar is a rugby player who exudes a lot of energy. It has always been his strength to be present, to sequence actions and to give his all. That's why he plays, because he enjoys it on the pitch, I think he really wanted to have a good match, especially after the somewhat complicated weeks he and the club went through,” his teammate emphasized on Saturday evening. Matthias Haddad.

With the second line of Pau, Hugo Auradou, who returned to the field at the beginning of October, Jegou is still charged with aggravated rape by the Argentine courts for alleged facts which allegedly occurred in Mendoza, the night following their first selection for the French team against Argentina on July 6. A hearing to study the two players' request for dismissal, postponed several times and initially scheduled for Friday, has been postponed indefinitely. The two players have maintained from the beginning that the sexual relations with the complainant, a 39-year-old Argentinian they met in a nightclub, were consensual and without violence. His lawyer, on the contrary, denounced a rape with “terrible violence”.

First placed in pre-trial detention then placed under house arrest in Mendoza, the two internationals, aged 21, were released in mid-August, then authorized to return to France at the beginning of September.