Argentinian Court Dismisses Rape Charges Against French Rugby Players

An Argentine appeals court has upheld the dismissal of aggravated rape charges against French rugby players Oscar Jégou and Hugo Auradou, who were accused of assaulting a woman after a match in July 2023. The court found that the plaintiff's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence, including video footage and expert testimonies that contradicted her account. Jégou and Auradou, both 21, maintained that any sexual encounter was consensual and had been held in preventive custody before being released. Their lawyer stated that the judicial process has proven their innocence after a series of favorable rulings. The accuser's lawyer has vowed to appeal to higher courts, including the Supreme Court and potentially the Inter-American Court for Human Rights. The players have since resumed their rugby careers, participating in recent Six Nations matches for France.