Argentine authorities on Friday (AEST) transferred two French rugby players under police guard from Buenos Aires to the western city of Mendoza, where they are expected to appear in court on suspicion of aggravated sexual assault.
The rugby players, Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou, arrived in Mendoza after a 1000km journey from the Argentine capital via police van as prosecutors confirmed the case against the two men would be progressing to court on Saturday (AEST).
The men stand accused of "sexual abuse with carnal excess" in a grisly case that has shaken the French rugby world.
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French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said on X that, if confirmed, the incident represents "an unspeakable atrocity."
The alleged assault took place early on Sunday morning inside a Mendoza hotel room a day after the two athletes made their debuts in a Test match against Argentina's Pumas in the city.
Celebrating their 28-13 win at a nightclub on Saturday, 21-year-old Jegou and 20-year-old Auradou met a woman and took her back to their room at the sleek, glass panelled Diplomatic Hotel, one of the most upscale accommodations in town.
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The victim, who has not been identified, alleges that both players took turns "repeatedly" raping her that night.
The victim's lawyer, Natacha Romano, told The Associated Press that the players prevented the young woman from leaving the hotel room following the alleged assault.
"She was forced to escape," Romano said.
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The victim filed a police report on Sunday and underwent a forensic physical examination.
The French Rugby Federation said the players admitted to having sex with the young woman but "firmly denied committing any kind of violence."
Their lawyer declined comment when reached by the AP.
The players were arrested on Tuesday (AEST) in Buenos Aires as their teammates continued onto Montevideo, Uruguay, where they won 43-28 on Thursday (AEST).
Martin Ahumada, the spokesperson for Mendoza's prosecutor's office, said he expects the players to remain in pre-trial detention for 10 days.
The Test tour now takes the French rugby team to Buenos Aires for another match against Argentina on Sunday (5am AEST kickoff, live on Stan Sport).
France dropped Jegou, Auradou and Melvyn Jaminet from the lineup.
Jaminet was suspended by France for a racist remark in a social media video, for which he apologised.
Meanwhile, flanker Pablo Matera will become the third man to play 100 Tests for Argentina at Velez Sarsfield Stadium.
Matera, who debuted in 2013, follows Agustin Creevy (108) and Nicolas Sanchez (104) to the milestone.
ARGENTINA (15-1): Santiago Cordero, Bautista Delguy, Matias Moroni, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Joaquin Oviedo, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Lucas Paulos, Franco Molina, Eduardo Bello, Julian Montoya (c), Mayco Vivas
Reserves: Ignacio Ruiz, Thomas Gallo, Lucio Sordoni, Matias Alemanno, Pedro Rubiolo, Gonzalo Bertranou, Tomas Albornoz, Matias Orlando
FRANCE (15-1): Leo Barre, Theo Attissogbe, Emilien Gailleton, Antoine Frisch, Lester Etien, Antoine Hastoy, Baptiste Serin (c), Jordan Joseph, Judicael Cancoriet, Lenni Nouchi, Baptiste Penseti, Mickael Guillard, Georges-Henri Colombe, Gaetan Barlot, Jean-Baptiste Gros
Reserves: Teddy Baubigny, Sebastien Taofifenua, Demba Bamba, Posolo Tuilagi, Romain Briatte, Killian Tixeront, Baptiste Jauneau, Leo Berdeu
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