France drop several players for going out following Scotland defeat

France have dropped several players from their squad to face Italy as punishment for going out in Edinburgh following Saturday's defeat to Scotland.

The French rugby federation (FFR) released a statement saying: "(Coach) Jacques Brunel has decided to exclude from that list the players who went out after the defeat in Scotland.

"With this inappropriate behaviour, they failed to respect their duty as international players."

Alexandre Lapandry, Arthur Iturria, Anthony Belleau, Felix Lambey, Jonathan Danty, Remi Lamerat, Louis Picamoles and Teddy Thomas have not been included in the squad list for the Six Nations clash with Italy on February 23 in Marseille.

However, the FFR did not name the players sanctioned.

France's squad was delayed in returning home from their Six Nations defeat by Scotland on Monday after players were questioned by police.

The squad was scheduled to leave on Monday morning but several players were removed from their charter flight from Edinburgh Airport - the flight was able to leave two hours late at 1pm.

An incident was alleged to have occurred in Edinburgh in the hours following Les Bleus' 32-26 Six Nations defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield.

Police Scotland said on Monday that "following an initial report of sexual assault in Edinburgh city centre during the early hours of Monday 12 February, police conducted various lines of inquiry, including speaking to a number of potential witnesses.

"These inquiries have established that no crime has been committed."