SECTION PALOISE Hugo Auradou
A junior world champion at nineteen and a Six Nations winner at twenty-one, whose career was interrupted by a criminal case in Argentina that was dismissed.
The WeTalkRugby Rating weighs international caps, age against the peak for the position, captaincy, club strength and the strength of the international side.
Across 4 tracked matches: 76 metres from 25 carries, 2 clean breaks, 1 offloads and a 80% tackle success rate (24 made).
Season stats
2026Match history
Nations Championship 3 apps · 0 tries
Top 14 1 apps · 1 tries
About Hugo Auradou
Hugo Auradou won the junior world championship in 2023, was capped by France a year later, and has fifteen caps and two Six Nations titles at 23. His father David played for France and his older brother Paul plays in the second division.
Lock at Pau, 2.00m and 105kg.
Before he was a fly-half at Sarlac he was a footballer, and he became a lock only after Mont-de-Marsan converted him. The Pau academy took him in 2020 and he captained its under-23 side. Three Challenge Cup matches came at eighteen, a league debut against Bayonne in December 2022, and a junior world title six months later, in a second row alongside Posolo Tuilagi.
Sam Whitelock’s arrival in 2023 might have blocked him and did the opposite. He treated it as an apprenticeship, took on the lineout captaincy under Sébastien Piqueronies, and was extended to 2028 before a serious ankle injury ended that season.
France capped him in Mendoza on 6 July 2024, starting in the second row in a 28-13 win.
Two days later he and Oscar Jégou were arrested in Mendoza following a complaint of rape, and on 12 July both were charged with aggravated rape and detained. Both said the encounter had been consensual. They were released to house arrest, allowed home in September, and on 4 October the prosecution asked for the case to be dismissed. On 10 December 2024 the judge dropped the proceedings, and the dismissal was confirmed on appeal in February 2025. A further appeal was lodged the following month.
His recall to the France squad in February 2025 was publicly contested. He has since played two more Six Nations and returned to the Top 14 side as a first-choice lock alongside Jimi Maximin.
Frequently asked questions
What position does Hugo Auradou play?
Hugo Auradou plays as a lock for Section Paloise.
Which team does Hugo Auradou play for?
Hugo Auradou currently plays for Section Paloise.
How old is Hugo Auradou?
Hugo Auradou is 23 years old (born 20 July 2003).
How tall is Hugo Auradou?
Hugo Auradou stands 2m tall.
What nationality is Hugo Auradou?
Hugo Auradou is from France.
How many tries has Hugo Auradou scored?
Hugo Auradou has scored 1 tries and 5 points across 4 tracked matches.
