He will be tried "Tuesday at 13:30 in immediate appearance" before the criminal court of Montpellier, explained the player's counsel, Marc Gallix, specifying that his client was "prosecuted for domestic violence without ITT" and that he faced a maximum sentence of three years of detention.

The custody of the player, started Friday night after facts of domestic violence "which would have been committed on the public road", has been extended by 24 hours, said to AFP the prosecutor of the Republic of Montpellier, Fabrice Bélargent, adding that Mohamed Haouas would be presented to the prosecutor's office Sunday, which can decide on his detention.

According to a source close to the case, the facts accused of the MHR player occurred Friday in the middle of the day, in front of a shopping center in Montpellier where his wife works.

After an argument broke out between them, "he made a sweep (Editor's note: kick in the ankle to make someone fall), she fell and he hit her in the face," added the same source, noting that several people had witnessed the scene, also captured by CCTV cameras.

Aged 29, married and father of two children, Mohamed Haouas has already twice experienced the dock of the judicial court of Montpellier, for facts committed in his youth, nearly ten years ago.

In February 2022, the international (16 caps) was sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for his role in burglaries in 2014, when he was not yet a professional rugby player.

On 12 May, during his second appearance in court, he appeared on charges of "aggravated violence" and "destruction of the property of others committed in a group", facts still dating back to 2014. He was on trial with five friends for a fight of rare violence.

Red cards

"My goal is never to return to court," said Mohamed Haouas, against whom a two-year suspended prison sentence was requested, adding that he wanted to definitively turn the page on the "mistakes of youth".

"It's not good what we did that day, I'm sorry, it's not a pride. When you're young, you do stupid things. But I'm looking to evolve, I decided to leave Montpellier before the end of my contract to change everything, change house, city, life.

A Montpellier player since the beginning of his career, Mohamed Haouas has signed for three years, starting next season, with Clermont.

"Montpellier Hérault Rugby wishes to reiterate that it condemns all acts of violence of any kind and expects exemplary behaviour from its employees. The management of the club, which will make no other comment, remains waiting for judicial decisions and will then determine the follow-up to be given on this case, "responded the club Hérault in a statement posted on Twitter.

This new case could deal the final blow to the international career of the Montpellier colossus (1.85 m, 123 kg), a few days before the announcement on June 21 by Fabien Galthié, the coach of the Blues, of the 42 players selected for the Rugby World Cup in France.

On that date, Haouas' conviction for his second trial will not yet be known, the deliberations being scheduled for June 30.

Appearing as a meteorite within the XV of France at the beginning of the Galthié era, quickly indisputable holder, Haouas then moved back in the hierarchy of pillars of the XV of France.

The fault to less successful sports performances first. But also because of two bloodshots punished by two red cards, each time against Scotland, during the Six Nations tournament: in 2020, for a punch to the face, then this year, for a headbutt this time.

© 2023 AFP