Rugby: “The situation is more complex, justice has been served”, the president of Castres for a return of Hounkpatin

Wilfrid Hounkpatin, pillar of Castres Olympique, was sentenced to 12 months in prison on Wednesday for brutalizing his partner. While he was to participate in the round of 16 of the Challenge Cup, this Friday (9 p.m.), against the English of Gloucester, the international pillar (1 sel.) was ultimately not selected by the OC. In a letter addressed to our colleagues from L'Equipe, Tarn president Pierre-Yves Revol opened the door to a future return of his player, while providing “his total support to the victim and more broadly condemns all forms of violence done to women.

“Regarding the contractual relationship with the player who has a fixed-term contract of three years, the decision of the Castres court does not annul it and French law does not authorize dismissal on the grounds of this sanction taken in the framework of his private life", indicates the Castres leader, former president of the LNR, who hears "the voices of those who want to ban him from the stadiums", but does not want "to cry with the wolves". He continued: “The situation is more complex. Justice has passed. Because he is an athlete, should he suffer the double punishment and be deprived of his profession?

Pierre-Yves Revol adds that he “read carefully his statements at the trial which express beyond the news item with his ex-partner which he regretted and for which he apologized, a certain discomfort and difficulties in managing his status as a professional player.” Castres Olympique will “examine with him and perhaps also his environment, if he is able to continue his professional activity and able to overcome this sanction by giving himself every chance of having in the future a exemplary behavior. I don’t have the answer and it may take time for him to deal with the situation.”

Before being sentenced last June by the Montpellier criminal court to 18 months in prison, nine of which were closed, for a fight dating back almost 10 years, another international pillar, Mohamed Haouas, was sentenced in May, by the same court, sentenced to one year for hitting his wife in front of the shopping center where she works. He had previously left his training club, Montpellier, to wear the colors of Biarritz (Pro D2), after being rejected by Clermont. Before returning to MHR next season.