Mohamed Haouas, pillar of the XV of France, was placed in police custody for domestic violence in Montpellier, a new legal case which further compromises the player’s chances of participating in the Mondial-2023 (September 8-October 28), after two trials for “youthful mistakes”. Even if the exact circumstances around this arrest – which took place on Friday and confirmed on Saturday by his lawyer Marc Gallix – are not yet known, it could even mark the end of the international career of the Montpellier colossus (1.85 m, 123 kg ).
Mohamed Haouas already known to the court
Aged 29, married and father of two children, Mohamed Haouas had already experienced the bench of the defendants of the Montpellier judicial court twice, for acts committed in his youth, almost ten years ago. In February 2022, the international (16 caps) was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence for his involvement in burglaries in 2014, at a time when he had not yet started his career.
On May 12, during his second appearance in court, he appeared this time for “aggravated violence” and “destruction of the property of others committed in a meeting”, facts dating from the same year 2014, on January 1, at the issue of New Year’s Eve. He was tried with five childhood friends for a fight of rare violence. Comparing the six defendants to “a pack of wolves attacking a man on the ground”, the prosecutor had underlined the role of “leader” of the MHR player, reigning French champion.
“Young mistakes”
“My goal is to never come back to court again”, then claimed Mohamed Houas, against whom two years of suspended prison sentence were required, adding that he definitely wanted to turn the page on “youthful mistakes”. “It’s not good what we did that day, I’m sorry, it’s not a source of pride. When you’re young, you do stupid things. But I’m looking to evolve, I decided to leave from Montpellier before the end of my contract to change everything, change house, city, life”, he defended himself.
Montpellier player since the start of his career, Mohamed Haouas has signed for three years, starting next season, with Clermont. Contacted by AFP on Saturday, the Auvergne club had not yet reacted to the arrest of its future player.
But it is now above all the future in the France team of Mohamed Haouas which will arise, a few days before the announcement on June 21 by Fabien Galthié, the coach of the Blues, of the 42 players selected for the World Cup of rugby in France (8 September-28 October). On this date, the conviction of Haouas for his second trial will not yet be known, the deliberation being scheduled for June 30.
A punch in the face of an opponent during the Six Nations Tournament
Appearing like a meteorite within the XV of France at the beginning of the Fabien Galthié era, and quickly indisputable holder, Haouas then fell back in the hierarchy of the pillars of the XV of France. The first fault was a red card against Scotland, during the 2020 Six Nations Tournament, for having punched an opponent in the face.
This same Scottish team against which the Montpellier player still sadly distinguished himself during the last Tournament, for his 16th selection in “blue”. He was then suspended for four weeks for a whim in the 13th minute of play on opposing scrum-half Ben White, during a clearing during the match won against XV du Chardon at the Stade de France (32-21 ) in February. Fabien Galthié then did not want to publicly overwhelm him: “I want to protect him, help him, encourage him,” he explained.
The situation of Mohamed Haouas had also been complicated recently with Montpellier. Thus, he did not appear in the Montpellier group for the home victory against La Rochelle 42-31, on May 13 in the Top 14. He had been sanctioned by the staff following tensions in the locker room after the home defeat against Brive (27-26) the previous week.