Argentine court dismisses rape charges against French rugby players

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An Argentine court has dropped the charges of rape against France players Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, a decision that the French Rugby Federation has welcomed with “relief and satisfaction”. “The Argentine justice system, in accordance with the unanimous requests of the prosecutors, today pronounced a dismissal in favour of the players Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, thus recognising their absence of guilt,” the union confirmed in a statement. “This is why, in close collaboration with the families and with the clubs of Pau and La Rochelle, the French Rugby Federation has deployed from the very first days all the means at its disposal so that Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou can be defended fairly and live in dignified and safe conditions, particularly in Buenos Aires and Mendoza. “While the French Rugby Federation welcomes this decision, these events nevertheless serve as a reminder of the need to create new conditions to prevent and avoid risky behavior in high-level rugby, to train responsible and exemplary players, drawing inspiration from the 60,000 volunteers and 2,000 amateur rugby clubs who work every day to create social ties and play an educational and civic role as well as a sporting one.