Toulon offer banned Jaminet chance for redemption after racist video

Melvyn Jaminet made the video during France's tour of South America. © (AP Photo/Daniel Cole, File)

Toulon rugby club chiefs offered a lifeline on Tuesday to their disgraced player Melvyn Jaminet, who was thrown out of France's tour of South America lin July for posting a video online that contained racially offensive remarks.

French rugby federation chiefs suspended the 25-year-old from the game for 34 weeks for the incident following a disciplinary hearing on 26 July. They also fined him 30,000 euros.

They said they would reduce the ban to 26 weeks if Jaminet were to take part in community service programmes for the FFR such as talking to youth players about the dangers of alcohol and social media as well as promoting the fight against discrimination.

Following its own inquiry, Toulon said it would not dismiss the player but would not pay his salary during the FFR ban and had modified his contract.

"Regardless of the circumstances in which the incident occurred, Toulon rugby club has suffered considerable damage to its image and its interests with regard to its public, players and staff," said a club statement.

Hope

"We believe in the possibility of Melvyn Jaminet's redemption and are ready to support him in this process.

"This approach aims to help him understand the seriousness of his actions, eradicate them and evolve positively as an individual.

"The club has taken a series of measures and is hoping for the success of a rehabilitation plan."

Jaminet joined Toulon from Toulouse in November 2023 after appearing for France in the 2023 World Cup. He scored his first international try in the opening match win over New Zealand.

Though he missed the 2024 Six Nations tournament, he was selected for the France tour of Argentina and Uruguay.

On 7 July, the day after Jaminet won his 20th cap in the victory over Argentina in Mendoza, he posted video of himself saying: “The first Arab I meet on the street ... I’m going to headbutt him.”

Return

He was sent home from the tour and suspended pending an inquiry.

A French rugby federation statement issued after a disciplinary hearing said: "Melvyn Jaminet was found to have undermined the best interests of rugby."

Should Jaminet carry out his community service programmes successfully, he will be free to play from the end of January 2025.

His tour teammates Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou remain in Argentina after the 21-year-olds were arrested in Buenos Aires on 9 July and later charged with raping a 39-year-old woman.

Just hours after their debuts for France in the Mendoza win, Jegou and Auradou are alleged to have prevented a woman from leaving their hotel room.

Both players claim the encounter was consensual.