France flanker Jegou makes playing return after rape allegations / Photo: XAVIER LEOTY - AFP
France flanker Jegou makes playing return after rape allegations
France back-rower Oscar Jegou scored a try on Saturday as he made his first appearance on a rugby field since being accused of rape in Argentina.
Jegou was on the scoresheet to help his Top 14 team La Rochelle defeat Stade Francais 35-18.
It was the flanker's first game since the alleged rape took place in Mendoza, Argentina on July 6 when he was part of the France squad touring the country.
His fellow-accused Hugo Auradou returned for French rivals Pau a month ago.
A hearing to consider the two 21-year-old players' request to have the rape case dismissed, which had been postponed several times, has been pushed back indefinitely.
Both men have maintained from the outset the sexual relations with the complainant, a 39-year-old Argentine woman they met in a nightclub, were consensual and non-violent.
At Stade Marcel-Deflandre, Jegou was hugged by Stade Francais back-rower and France team-mate from July's tour Romain Briatte in the tunnel seconds before kick-off.
Jegou's first early contribution was a delicate off-load just after the half an hour mark which helped set-up Teddy Thomas' try for the hosts, who trailed 15-11 at the break after Louis Carbonel's five penalties for the away side.
La Rochelle took control of the game after the interval as ex-Australia hooker Tolu Latu crossed before Jegou's touchdown with 20 minutes to go.
Jegou stretched over from short range to score as the home crowd cheered and the back-rower reacted by making a heart sign with his two hands to thank them.
"It does a lot of good for everyone, especially the supporters to see Oscar perform like that," La Rochelle director of rugby Ronan O'Gara told Canal+ of the forward's return.
"The directors, Pierre Venayre and Vincent Merling decided it was the moment for him to play. To start him was obvious because he's a class player."
Ihaia West's conversion took the score to 28-18 before Latu's Wallabies team-mate Will Skelton crossed in the final 10 minutes.
Earlier, Bordeaux-Begles moved above Toulouse to the top of the table despite a 32-27 loss at Clermont.
On Sunday, champions Toulouse head to Bayonne without a host of France squad members as they prepare to face Japan in Les Bleus' November internationals opener next weekend.
T.Wright--EWJ
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