Two French international rugby players have been arrested in Argentina following allegations of sexual assault.
Oscar Jegou, 21, and Hugo Auradou20-year-olds were arrested on Monday in Buenos Aires and will be transferred to Mendoza, where according to local reports the crime was committed against a woman.
France is on tour in South America.
The French team stayed in Mendoza on Saturday evening after their 28-13 victory in the test against Argentina, during which both players made their international debut.
“If the facts are proven, they are incredibly serious,” said Florian Grill, president of the French Rugby Federation, to journalists.
“We will reserve the results of the investigation.”
Mendoza prosecutor’s spokesman Martín Ahumada told AFP that a commission is traveling to Buenos Aires to conduct “investigative actions” and that “if the results coincide with the victim’s testimony, an indictment will be issued.”
Jegou, who plays in the third row for French club La Rochelle, and Auradou, a second row for the Pau club, were part of the French team that won the U-20 World Championship in 2023.
BBC Sport has contacted the French Rugby Federation for comment.
The arrests come two days after the arrest of the full-back Melvyn Jaminet was suspended by the federation after posting a video on social media with a racist comment.
Jaminet, who plays for Toulon, posted the video on his Instagram account after playing in the victory against Argentina.
Although Jaminet deleted the video, it was widely shared on social media and the 25-year-old was sent home from tour.
Jaminet said he was “deeply sorry and ashamed of my comments.”
France will play Uruguay in Montevideo on Wednesday before returning to Buenos Aires for a second test against Argentina.
