France name Jegou, Auradou in Six Nations squad

Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, who were investigated for rape in Argentina before the case was dismissed last month, were both named Wednesday in France's 42-man squad for the Six Nations.

In December, the case against the pair, both 21, was dropped after the two forwards had been accused of rape in July after France had played Los Pumas on tour.

La Rochelle flanker Jegou and Pau lock Auradou insisted they had consensual sex with a 39-year-old woman after a night of drinking following their Test debuts.

France coach Fabien Galthie insisted this week that "the case was dropped which is clear and obvious. From the moment the case was dropped, we consider them innocent".

"From the moment when a case is dropped, after a coherent procedure, they can be selected," the former France captain added.

There is also a return, after 17 months on the sidelines with injuries, of Toulouse fly-half Romain Ntamack.

The 25-year-old, who has won 37 France caps, has in that time missed out on the 2023 World Cup and last year's Six Nations with a serious knee injury while a calf injury resulted in him missing the November internationals.

Galthie has been forced into springing some selection surprises owing to the absence of a raft of experienced players such as Gael Fickou, Charles Ollivon and Reda Wardi.

There are call-ups for Noah Nene, who plays centre for Dax in the second division ProD2, Toulon lock Matthias Halagahu and Leinster prop Rabah Slimani, who played the last of his 57 Tests in 2019.