“I came with my friends to see Usap win. Auradou, we don't care”: how the return of the player accused of rape went in Top 14 ?

Hugo Auradou a fait son retour au jeu, samedi. MAXPPP – Nicolas Parent

“Nothing prevents him from doing his job”: French international Hugo Auradou, still being prosecuted for rape in Argentina, played again in the Top 14 on Saturday October 5 with his club Pau in the indifference of the Perpignan public, which contrasted with the media excitement.

The 21-year-old second row had not put his boots back on for an official match since July 6 and the famous Argentina-France. Still under investigation with the Rochelais Oscar Jegou for aggravated rape, but pending a dismissal requested Friday by the Mendoza prosecutor's office, Auradou was given a permanent position on Saturday, 91 days later.

Not at Hameau, where Section Pau is preparing to host twice in a row, but in Perpignan, in an Aimé-Giral stadium known for its warm, sometimes hostile atmosphere, and sold out (14,232 spectators) for the eighth time in a row.

The Catalan “cathedral” has nevertheless remained largely indifferent to Auradou's presence on the pitch. “I came with my girlfriends to see Usap win. Auradou, we don't care”, exclaims Léa, a 22-year-old student, who has “followed the case from afar”.

No hostility from the public

“As long as he is presumed innocent, I don't see why he couldn't play again”, believes Robert, a Perpignan supporter who has been a member for 1982. “There's nothing stopping him from doing his job. And his job is to play rugby.”

Only a few jeers accompanied the Pau players upon their arrival at the stadium, an hour and a half before kick-off. When the team line-up was announced, there was no hostile reaction from the crowd either.

It was rather on the media side that one had to look for a certain excitement. Many national media outlets were present, with 34% more requests for accreditation than for an “ordinary” match.

All the cameras were focused on Auradou, when he got off the Pau bus, during his warm-up or when he entered the pitch. It took a little over nine minutes and a touch properly captured five metres from the Catalan in-goal for him to touch his first ball. But there again, the Aimé-Giral crowd showed nothing.

Victim of cramps

Focused on defensive tasks, the second row played a decent match, without any fuss. He played 74 minutes before being victim of cramps and giving way to Thomas Jolmès. There were a few whistles when he came out, but they weren't necessarily aimed at him: Usap was still behind before snatching the victory (11-10) thanks to a penalty in stoppage time.

“He was very good, efficient like last season”, commented Pau manager Sébastien Piqueronies. “We found him full of energy, very alert and efficient in the air. He was calm and determined. The public's reception ? We had no particular fears."

Auradou, approached by the media, did not appear at a press conference after the match. He preferred to speak on the pitch while awaiting the outcome of the case. He and his team were unable to prevent Usap's victory, with a penalty in the 80th minute.