Vinaya Habosi made a notable return to the field for Racing 92 as they secured a 27-24 victory against Vannes in the Top 14 on Saturday. This match comes just weeks after Habosi was arrested following a domestic dispute with his wife. The 24-year-old wing has been subjected to disciplinary measures by Racing 92 and is required to participate in a domestic violence program.
Habosi’s performance included scoring a crucial try, helping his team achieve their second win of the season, easing the pressure on coach Stuart Lancaster, who previously managed England and Leinster. Vannes, competing in their first top-flight season, remains at the bottom of the standings after suffering their fourth defeat.
In Perpignan, Hugo Auradou started for Pau, marking his first appearance since returning from Argentina, where he has faced serious allegations of rape. The 21-year-old lock was arrested alongside La Rochelle flanker Oscar Jegou in July, following their debut matches for France. A woman claimed the players assaulted her in a hotel room after a night out post-match, but both players deny the allegations, asserting that the encounter was consensual. Recently, Argentine prosecutors recommended dropping the charges against them.
While Jegou has resumed training with La Rochelle, he was not part of the squad for their match against Lyon on Saturday. Later that day, Castres, the former club of Antoine Dupont, faced Toulouse, where the star scrum-half was absent, having spent the week in the United States after the Olympics, even meeting football legend Lionel Messi in Miami.