29/06/2026 09:32 - Judiciales
Oscar Jégou and Hugo Auradou, players for the French National Rugby Team accused of sexually assaulting a woman on July 7, 2024 at the Hotel Diplomatic in Mendoza, will face a new court hearing this Wednesday, July 1, 2026, as confirmed by sources close to the case to Infobae.
Mendoza is Argentina's premier wine region, located at the foothills of the Andes mountains near the Chilean border. The incident occurred after France faced Los Pumas (Argentina's national rugby team) during their international tour. Both players, who were 21 years old at the time, were arrested in Buenos Aires by Interpol agents when they attempted to travel to Uruguay.
Jégou and Auradou were defended by attorney Rafael Cúneo Libarona and were dismissed in December 2024. Prosecutors Darío Nora and Daniela Chaler determined that no crime had been committed.
However, the accuser appealed the dismissal through a cassation appeal with her legal team. A cassation appeal is a legal remedy that allows parties to challenge judicial decisions before a higher court. The Chamber 2 of the Provincial Supreme Court of Justice ordered an oral hearing to present the appeal.
Evidence played a crucial role in the dismissal. A security video from the hotel elevator showed Auradou and the accuser kissing before going to the room, contradicting aspects of the accusation.
Experts from the Prosecution Office who analyzed the accuser's statement determined that her testimony presented "elements compatible with exaggeration and manipulation of information."
The hearing will take place digitally through Microsoft Teams. The accused will connect from New Zealand, where they are preparing to face the legendary All Blacks (New Zealand's national rugby team, considered the most successful team in rugby history) on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in Christchurch.
Defense attorney Rafael Cúneo Libarona stated: "It wasn't easy. They were two 21-year-old boys, imprisoned and innocent. Their lives were ruined by lies. Every detail was important, every contradiction. We already obtained two dismissals with support from prosecutors. We're close, and our counterattack is coming. False accusations are an extremely serious crime."
The players were initially detained in a judicial cell and later under house arrest at a property in Mendoza province before being allowed to leave the country. The case had significant international coverage and sparked debates about media treatment of sexual assault cases and respect for the presumption of innocence.
Source: Infobae - Article published on June 29, 2026.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
