Nearly four months after the complaint for rape on Argentinian soil, for which he is still indicted and which has considerably tarnished the image of French rugby, the Rochelais Oscar Jegou became a player again, Saturday, author of an essay and a full match against the Parisians from Stade Français (35-18).
Four weeks after his Pau teammate with the Blues Hugo Auradou, also awaiting a decision in the affair which shook the tricolor oval ball, the 21-year-old Charentais-Maritime has, in turn, returned to the field, whose personal situation had already been tarnished by a positive test for cocaine in August 2023.
The two internationals are still being prosecuted for “violent gang rape” of a 39-year-old Argentinian who had spent part of the night of July 6 to 7 in their hotel room in Mendoza, after a XV test match from France. High point of a nightmarish summer for French rugby, also weighed down by the racist video broadcast during the same evening by Melvyn Jaminet, who received a 34-week suspension from the Federation (FFR).
Faced with the shortage of third line for the match against the SFP, managers and coaches of the SR decided to put him back into action earlier than expected
Originally, La Rochelle wanted to wait for a possible dismissal decision from the Argentine courts to allow Jegou to play again. But faced with the shortage of third line (Grégory Alldritt, Paul Boudehent, Judicaël Cancoriet, Levani Botia) for the match against the SFP, SR managers and coaches decided to get him back into action earlier than expected. “Oscar (…) has always worked in the shadows. It was complicated for him, the club and rugby in general but we try to let justice take place”assured his third row partner Matthias Haddad.
The XV of France is not for now
Headphones screwed into his ears when he arrived at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium, stoic when the first “Allez Oscar” came down from the stands, the young flanker didn't let anything show. “I wondered how he was going to be received but I’m happy for himrejoiced his fellow pillar Alexandre Kaddouri. He wasn't that stressed, he just wanted to play rugby again. »
Rough in defense, priority option in touch, valuable offensively to put his team forward, Jegou showed the qualities which allowed him to win this selection in July in South America. It was he who was at the origin of the action which saw Teddy Thomas flatten, the only flash of a gloomy first period. Then, at the hour mark, he grabbed a ball in a ruck near the opposing goal before placing it on the line for his team's third try, validated on video, synonymous then an offensive bonus.
At the end of the 80 minutes, visibly relieved, the local boy left the field to the hugs of his partners and the cheers of the public. He did not speak after the meeting.
” What a game ! He's a great player. It's no surprise for us to see him last eighty minutes, it's no coincidence that he scores a try.”declared his Irish coach, Donnacha Ryan. “If he continues like this, he won’t be far from finding the French team”estimated South African winger Dillyn Leyds, captain for one evening.
However, it won't be right away. The president of the FFR, Florian Grill, was very clear in affirming that Jegou and Auradou would not play again “not in the French team as long as there is no dismissal”. “And for them to play again in the French team, they will also have to have adequate sporting performance”he added.
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