French police have questioned four men following an attack on Clermont’s Aurélien Rougerie, Julien Pierre and Benjamin Kayser, officials said.
The three French internationals were returning to the team hotel in Millau in the early hours of Sunday morning when they were confronted by around a dozen masked men armed with knives, swords and machetes.
“Four men have been detained for questioning. All are aged between 20 and 25 and their detention was expected to be extended for 24 hours on Monday,” a deputy prosecutor in charge of the investigation told AFP.
While initially hospitalised, Rougerie and Kayser rejoined their team-mates on Monday for a training camp in the Pyrenees. Pierre remained in hospital for an extra day following an operation before heading back to Clermont-Ferrand.
The Clermont players had on a stopover in Millau on their way to a pre-season training camp.
The good news for fans and players alike is all three are expected to return to training in the next month, according to a statement issued by Clermont Auvergne yesterday.
The news will be a welcome boost to supporters who will be hoping that the club can emulate their 2010 success in the French Top 14 and also win the inaugural Rugby Champions Cup.
Hat tip to Planet Rugby for the story.
