Jegou/Auradou case: a hearing of the two players could take place this Tuesday, announces Florian Grill

But the day is not over. We are waiting for details on the possible hearing of the two players this Tuesday.

The last day’s outing had, however, been banned. “If players went out, it’s one more slip-up. We told Baptiste Serin that we didn’t want any additional outings after this third match, they had to stay at the hotel.”

“During the course of the tour, there were 42 players involved. An announcement of the team for the last match was made on Thursday evening and there were players left for whom the tour was over and who came to see us to find out what they could and could not do. They were allowed to leave the hotel to enjoy the city, have a few drinks in town in a controlled manner. They were asked to stay in the hotel if they wanted to stay late in the evening. We did not tell them not to do anything, we talked to them and the staff to make sure that there were no excesses. Instructions had been given.”

“A cold shower, a blow to the head, a step backwards. Rugby makes you grow, helps, and we cannot have a slip-up of this type that destroys the daily work done by the clubs and the French teams.”

“So far, in this case, we have heard a lot of the plaintiff’s version and we found it very important that we could listen. So far, the players have not pleaded, the players’ lawyers have heard to have the documents in the case to prepare their plea. We have a version but still really that of the players. According to the information we have, it would seem that there might be a meeting today that would allow us to explain their version.”

“This whole chain of cases is dramatic. For the plaintiff, the two players, the rugby clubs, sport in general. With the Olympic Games and the visibility for France approaching, it is dramatic. It is a reflection of society, it is not specific to rugby, it exists in many sports, in professional and amateur rugby. We must assume the duties and responsibilities that are ours in dealing with these issues.”

“The staff also went to visit them. We tried to use the visiting slots to show them as many people as possible and show them that we were supporting them.”

“We saw them with the French ambassador and consul when they were in the prison of the Buenos Aires police station. They were extremely dejected and affected. We did not see them again in Mendoza. We know that they arrived extremely exhausted from their trip to Mendoza. Now, they have been able to shower, sleep, things are a little better according to the feedback we have from the families. They want to express their version of events.”

“We talk a lot about sanctions but we also have to be better at prevention and education. We have time to do it in the training centres and we have to do a lot more in this area.”

“We do not have the right to trigger checks ourselves. On the other hand, we told the AFLD that we would find a real interest in checks not only after matches but during the week. We often associate the words cocaine and festive but it is inaudible. Cocaine is not festive, it is deadly.”

“This is already the case. In the case of Melvyn Jaminet, this was the case, with a precautionary suspension and referral to the prosecutor. And subsequently, there will be zero tolerance with financial sanctions and temporary or permanent exclusions from the French teams.”

“We launched a specific anti-violence plan. During the season, we reminded people of several points, particularly to the referees. In the event of racist remarks on the pitch, it’s a direct red card. If it’s in the stands, there’s the possibility of stopping the match. We also asked the clubs to systematically inform us of racist remarks and we make referrals each time.”

“There are cases that have been proven with AFLD checks. We talk a lot with Provale (players’ union), which reports a real social problem. I have also made a lot of trips to clubs and people tell me about an endemic problem. We must not hide. This does not call into question the values ​​of rugby but we have a duty of transparency and responsibility in these matters.”

“There is a whole galaxy of lawyers. What was desired by all parties was that there be coordination so as not to have a cacophony in the speeches.” This is the role of Maître Vey.

Florian Grill also calls for action at club level, not just within the French teams.

“We are clearly a reflection of society. I don’t think the third-half spirit should be called into question. On the other hand, the sense of duty, of collective interest, these are also the values ​​of rugby. We must have these valves but accept this principle of responsibility and sanction. I’m not going to go to one extreme or the other.”

“The procedure for deciding on supervised surveillance is between 5 and 25 days. The time for the trial is between 9 and 14 months.”

“We have been in contact with everyone: consulate, embassy, ​​families… In the work, we have actually found a house to rent. And to deal with the emergency, we have advanced the funds for all the expenses that may arise. The expenses depend on the families but in spirit, it seems obvious that the professional clubs, the FFR and the players want to contribute so that the cost for the families is not considerable.”

“I don’t want to go into details. We have some elements and they must be put forward by the families’ lawyers when they plead. It may be today, in fact.”

“Yes, there will be a before and after. We are going to change the rules but we do not want a vertical decision, we want to do it in consultation with the staff and players of the French teams. We understand that there is a need for a safety valve, but not to the point of going to these extremes which are incompatible with sporting performance. We are going to strengthen the approach in terms of awareness and sanctions. It is a survival issue for French rugby.”

“Yes, we asked ourselves the question and quite quickly, we considered that the matches had to take place. It was a question of respect towards the Argentine and Uruguayan federations.”

“We are neither judges nor investigators. What is certain is that two versions are opposed and that of the players has not yet been argued. We must trust the Argentine justice system and let it do its job.”

“There is an extremely precise framework that is based on autonomy and accountability and it was not respected by the players. It provides that they can go out in groups with senior players who must provide taxis to return. This was done by Baptiste Serin but this framework was not respected by certain players. It is not the staff who are responsible, it is the players who decided to go outside the framework.”

“We met the players when they were in Buenos Aires. We had indirect contacts afterwards through the families and the lawyers.”

“We are in contact with the families and, through them, with the players. The players are in a secure and dignified intermediate prison in Mendoza. The current state is to try to have them put in the residence that we found.”

Florian Grill will now answer questions from journalists.

“This could be financial sanctions, or a temporary or permanent exclusion from the French teams as we did with Melvyn Jaminet, with an immediate provisional suspension.”

“Since our arrival a year ago, we have decided to no longer sweep the dust under the carpet. It is our duty to truth and our duty to be transparent. Rugby deserves it. For the future, there will be a before and after Mendoza. We will work on it step by step, in consultation with all the players in rugby, the French teams, the clubs and the National League. We will not have a trembling hand, neither in raising awareness, nor in applying the new rules nor in sanctioning if necessary. The future of our club depends on it.”

• A mandatory psychological assessment for hopefuls
• A club tour
• A prevention program for young people
• An anti-violence program

“We must stop hiding behind our little finger.”

“I would like to emphasize that we did not wait for this dramatic affair to work on the subject of addictions and excesses of all types that we identified a year ago.”

The president of the French Rugby Federation speaks to journalists.

Expected at the federal center of Marcoussis this Tuesday, a few hours after his return to France with the delegation, the president of the FFR summoned journalists for a press conference.

Hello everyone and welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to the press conference of Florian Grill, president of the French Rugby Federation, to look back on the last eventful weeks of the French XV and the indictment for aggravated rape of Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou.