The charges stem from an incident in Mendoza, where a woman claimed she was repeatedly assaulted by the athletes after they took her back to their hotel room and prevented her from leaving.

The prosecutor's office in Mendoza has ordered Jegou, 21, and Auradou, 20, to remain in detention until trial. After being arrested in Buenos Aires, the players were transferred 1,000km to Mendoza for their first court appearance. In the hearing that took place on Friday, the accused chose not to testify.

The French Rugby Federation had previously stated that the players admitted to having consensual sex with the alleged victim and denied any acts of violence. However, the prosecutors have pressed charges of aggravated sexual assault, which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison in Argentina, with a mandatory minimum of eight years.

The account of the assault, provided by Natacha Romano, the lawyer of the victim, has triggered outrage in France and caused a stir in Argentina. Recent scandals involving professional athletes have led to questions about misogyny and sexual violence in the sports community. The woman alleged that after meeting Jegou and Auradou at a nightclub, she was taken to their hotel room, where she experienced violent, non-consensual sexual acts and was prevented from leaving.

After managing to escape the hotel room, the victim promptly filed a police complaint and underwent physical examinations to collect evidence. The court will soon decide whether to grant the defendants' request for house arrest. Meanwhile, authorities have announced that the defendants will be moved to another jail.

The case has highlighted the need for tackling issues of sexual violence and accountability within the sports world. As public attention and scrutiny intensify, many hope that justice will be served, and steps will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.