French rugby union chiefs on Wednesday named the players accused of raping a 39-year-old woman in Argentina during the summer tour of South America in the 42-man squad for the 2025 Six Nations tournament.
Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, both 21, were investigated over the incident in Mendoza, western Argentina, in July. The case was dismissed in December.
La Rochelle flanker Jegou and Pau lock Auradou insisted they had consensual sex with the woman after a night of drinking following their Test debuts.
“From the moment when a case is dropped, after a coherent procedure, they can be selected,” said France coach Fabien Galthié.
Their inclusion was one of the main talking points of Galthié’s squad along with a call-up for Noah Nene, who plays for Dax in the second division ProD2.
Toulon lock Matthias Halagahu has been drafted into the forward line with the veteran Leinster prop Rabah Slimani. The 35-year-old played the last of his 57 Tests in 2019.
Return
There is also a return, after 17 months on the sidelines with injuries, of the Toulouse fly-half Romain Ntamack.
The 25-year-old, who has won 37 France caps, has in that time missed out on the 2023 World Cup and last year’s Six Nations with a serious knee injury while a calf injury resulted in him missing the November internationals.
Other uncapped players named in the squad include Perpignan prop Giorgi Beria, Bordeaux-Begles hooker Maxime Lamothe, Toulon winger Gael Drean and Toulouse lock Joshua Brennan.
They wrap up their championship against Scotland at the Stade de France on 15 March.
(With newswires)
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