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Jegou, Auradou 'can be picked' for France, says Galthie / Photo: © AFP/File
Jegou, Auradou 'can be picked' for France, says Galthie
France coach Fabien Galthie said Monday that two players who were investigated for rape in Argentina before the case was dismissed can now be selected for the upcoming Six Nations.
In December, the case against 21-year-olds Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou was dropped after the two forwards had been accused of rape in July.
La Rochelle flanker Jegou and Pau lock Auradou insisted they had consensual sex with a 39-year-old woman after a night of drinking following their Test debuts.
"The case was dropped which is clear and obvious. From the moment the case was dropped, we consider them innocent," Galthie told radio station RMC.
"From the moment when a case is dropped, after a coherent procedure, they can be selected," the former France captain added.
The complainant's lawyer Natacha Romano has appealed the case's dismissal with a hearing set for February 10-11.
Following the dismissal of the case by the Argentina court last month, the French Rugby Federation said Jegou and Auradou were available for selection by Galthie on the basis of their club performances.
Jegou returned to the field in November with La Rochelle and Auradou was back with Pau in October.
Galthie names his Six Nations squad on Wednesday before France open the tournament by hosting Wales in Paris on January 31.
K. Petersen--BTZ
