French rugby player Jaminet sent home after social media post

French fullback Melvyn Jaminet has been suspended and expelled from the national rugby team’s tour of Argentina after a video emerged of the player making racist remarks. He later apologised.

In a statement on X, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) condemned the comments as “unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values ​​of our sport.”

Tickets for the Wallabies 2024 Home Tests are available to purchase here.

It said Jaminet “will be sidelined with immediate effect and will leave the French squad in Argentina.”

In the video, which went viral on Sunday after French MP Sébastien Delogu shared it on social media, Jaminet can be heard saying: “The first Arab I meet on the street, I’ll headbutt.”

The federation also said an internal investigation is being conducted to “uncover the extremely serious nature of the comments and take appropriate action.”

“Discriminatory behaviour of any kind has no place in French rugby,” the statement said.

The post is no longer visible on Jaminet’s social media. However, the 25-year-old player apologized shortly after his suspension was announced.

“I understand that this has hurt and offended many people, and I want to make it clear that these comments do not reflect my values ​​or those of the French rugby team. Racism in any form is unacceptable and goes against everything I believe in,” he wrote on Instagram.

Substitute Jaminet fired a long penalty in the first test match against hosts Argentina on Saturday, which France won 28-13.

Jaminet has played 20 games for France, including last year’s World Cup. He plays for Toulon in the south of France.

His club also published a statement on X to condemn “the comments” made by Jaminet and distanced itself from them. Toulon also announced that it was conducting an investigation, but did not comment on a possible suspension of the player.

France have taken a squad of 42 players to Argentina, including 22 new caps, and will play a second test in Velez on Saturday.