“I have never been violent with her. I try to contain my strength as best as possible”, rugby player Wilfried Hounkpatin sentenced to 12 months in prison

L'international français a été condamné par la justice. AAP – JAMES ROSS

Rugby player Wilfrid Hounkpatin, already laid off by his club, Castres Olympique, was sentenced Wednesday to 12 months in prison for having brutalized his partner.

On January 8, the young woman locked herself in a room in their house with her partner's phone, when she had just discovered that he was having an affair with another person. Wilfrid Hounkpatin then kicked the door, grabbed the victim by the wrists, before pinning her several times against a box spring, also squeezing her neck.

Also read:Disciplinary procedure, judicial review… rugby player Wilfrid Hounkpatin prosecuted for domestic violence

The young woman, a nurse by training, went to the police station the same evening to file a complaint. During the hearing on Wednesday, the player apologized. "I exerted pressure on the lower neck. (…) I was never violent with her. I'm trying to contain my strength as best as possible, declared the defendant at the Castres court.

"The leisure rugby team against the XV of France"

"For someone able to contain themselves on the pitch, when there is pressure (…). There, we are not able to contain ourselves when we pass the doors of the marital home, noted prosecutor Claire-Marie De Agostini.

"It's a bit like the leisure rugby team against the XV of France when we see the sizes that are there ;face", added the prosecutor, who had requested 15 months in prison. The powerful right pillar (1.92 m, 130 kg) arrived in 2018 at Castres Olympique, where he became one of the executives.

The 32-year-old has a selection with the France team, during a tour of Australia in 2021. He has three children with his partner.