The 29-year-old prop is due back in court tomorrow and faces the maximum sentence of three years in jail.

Haouas is accused of kicking his wife in the ankle in front of the shopping centre in Montpellier where she works, allegedly causing her to fall, and striking her in the face.

Several people are said to have witnessed what happened with the incident also captured on closed circuit television

No complaint was made by Haouas' wife, Agence France-Presse reported.

But bystanders called the police with Haouas allegedly forcing his wife to follow him.

The case is the latest legal issue for Haouas, who has played his entire career for Montpellier but is due to transfer to Top 14 rivals ASM Clermont Auvergne.

In February 2022, he received an 18-month suspended prison sentence for his part in burglaries in 2014, and for receiving a stolen car.

He is also awaiting the verdict of a trial where he is accused of being the "leader" of a brawl 10 years ago.

Prosecutors, who did praise Haouas for "escaping a troubled youth", alleged that six defendants were like "a pack of wolves attacking a man on the ground". 

They are accused of beating him with their hands, feet and iron bars after they were allegedly attacked first.

Haouas has 16 caps for France and was part of their squad which won the Six Nations with a Grand Slam last year.

At this year's Six Nations, he was sent off for headbutting Scotland's Ben White in week three and thrown out of the rest of the tournament.

He became the first player ever to receive two red cards in the Six Nations after he punched Scotland's Jamie Ritchie in 2020.

Haouas won the European Rugby Challenge Cup with Montpellier in 2021 and the Top 14 title a year later.

France is due to host the Rugby World Cup between September 8 and October 28.

The country's head coach Fabien Galthié faces a difficult decision on whether to select him, if he is available to play.