Two French rugby players were detained on Monday under suspicion of committing aggravated rape on a woman in Mendoza. The players were in the country after facing Argentina’s national rugby union team in a test match, France won 28-13.

The woman’s lawyer, Ana Natacha Romano, described the injuries she sustained during the attack, including signs of attempted strangulation and bruises to her face, chest, back, and legs.

Speaking with Argentine radio station Radio Mitre, she said the assault was “abhorrent.” “The physical violence is almost bigger than the sexual abuse. Even though that’s the most serious part, the violence these two men enacted was merciless, causing [the woman] many injuries.”

According to Mendoza’s Prosecutors Office spokesperson, the players are detained in Buenos Aires but have yet to be indicted. A Mendoza Police delegation is traveling to the capital to take them back to the province. The case will move forward once the players are in custody of the Mendoza Judiciary, with the woman’s legal complaint and the rape kit.

The case sparked a big reaction from sports authorities in France. French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra wrote on her X account that “if the investigation establishes the alleged facts, they constitute an unspeakable atrocity.”

Florian Grill, president of the French Rugby Federation echoed her words when speaking to the French press. “The first thing you have to do is think about the woman. This goes against everything rugby is, does, and tries to build,” he said.

Cover image taken from the Pumas’ Official X Account, depicting the Argentina-France test match. Does not include the accused French players.