Rugby internationals return to France as rape case continues

Two French rugby players have returned home nearly two months after being arrested and charged with rape while on tour with the national team in Argentina.

Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, both 21, are alleged to have raped and beaten a 39-year-old woman and held her against her will after meeting her in a nightclub in Mendoza in July.

The charges against them - which they deny - remain, but the court has allowed them to return to France.

Auradou and Jegou may attend hearings at the Argentine consulate in France and can be ordered to return to the court in Mendoza.

The maximum sentence for the charges they face is 20 years, with a mandatory minimum term of eight years.

The French Rugby Federation welcomed the decision to allow them to return "with satisfaction".

"The French Rugby Federation wanted to listen to the complainant, but also to constantly called to mind the presumption of innocence of the two players," it said in a statement.

"Today's decision is a further step towards the judicial truth."

As Auradou and Jegou walked through Buenos Aires International Airport to catch their flight home, their lawyer said their experience had been "a horror movie that never should have existed".

Auradou and Jegou, who had made their debuts for France in a 28-13 win over Argentina the previous day, claim they had consensual sex with the woman after returning to a hotel room.

Her lawyer denies the sex was consensual and says her client suffered injuries to her face, back, breasts, legs and ribs and was prevented from leaving the room for several hours.

Her representatives say she has since tried to take her own life and would continue to suffer "irreparable harm" while the men she accuses resume their lives in France.

Auradou and Jegou were released from house arrest in Mendoza last month and travelled to Buenos Aires while their application to fly back to France was considered.

La Rochelle, Jegou's club side, said they were "convinced" of the back row's innocence "since the first days". He will be gradually reintegrated into their squad, and is available for selection.

Pau said they felt "joy and relief" about second row Auradou's return.

The French Top 14 season begins on Saturday.