Appeal court judges in Argentina on Wednesday confirmed the acquittal of the France international rugby players Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jégou in the aggravated rape case lodged against them last July.
The men were accused of raping a 39-year-old woman after a night out drinking following their international debuts in France's opening Test match of their South American tour on 6 July against Argentina in Mendoza.
Buenos Aires detention
Auradou and Jegou, who play for the French top flight sides Stade Palois and Stade Rochelais respectively, denied any wrongdoing and said the sex was consensual in a room at the Diplomatic Hotel in Mendoza.
They were detained in Buenos Aires on 8 July as the France squad prepared to leave for Montevideo for their second game against Uruguay and escorted back to Mendoza.
They were placed under house arrest in Argentina as they awaited trial. In September, judges allowed them to return to France pending the conclusion of their case.
Argentina court allows French rugby players accused of rape to return home
In December, judges dismissed the case the men but lawyers representing the woman said she would appeal against that decision.
"After analysing all the evidence gathered in the case, it is clear that the version of events maintained by the plaintiff is not supported by the objective elements in the case file," Wednesday's ruling stated.
"On the contrary, the video evidence, the testimonies, the medical and psychological expert reports, as well as the messages from the plaintiff in the hours and days following the events, have implacably refuted the accusatory hypothesis."
"This is the judicial epilogue of this case, which is symbolic and special because it has shown that you can be accused without foundation by someone who lied to the courts," Auradou's and Jégou's French lawyer Antoine Vey told Reuters news agency.
"We've had a succession of rulings that have established the players' innocence."
Auradou and Jégou, both 21, played the first two Six Nations matches for France against Wales and England, and are part of the squad preparing to face Italy on Sunday.
The woman's legal team said on Wednesday it would appeal against Wednesday's ruling at the French Supreme Court.
Discipline crackdown
In the wake of July's incident, French rugby chiefs have vowed to crack down on discipline during official tours, especially after games.
"The model that we've had for years, based on empowerment and taking responsibility, is not working," said Florian Grill, president of the French rugby federation.
"There was a kind of acceptance of these excesses. We're going to come up with a plan that includes controls and financial or sporting sanctions.
Judges to review rape case against French rugby players in Argentina
"People have to take responsibility, especially those lucky enough to wear the national shirt."
Before Auradou and Jégou were arrested, France full-back Melvyn Jaminet was dispatched from the tour squad for publishing an offensive video in which he can be heard saying: "The first Arab I meet on the street, I'm going to head butt him."
The video was shared on social media by La France Insoumise politician Sébastien Delogu.
In a statement posted on X, the French rugby federation (FFR) condemned Jaminet's comments as unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of the sport.
Jaminet apologised for the remarks, but was banned from playing for eight and a half months. RC Toulon, his French Top 14 club, also suspended him but stopped short of sacking him.
(With newswires)
