France coach Jacques Brunel has dropped eight players from his squad as punishment for inappropriate behaviour during a night out in Edinburgh on Sunday.

Fifteen of France’s squad members went out following their defeat to Scotland but the eight who were dropped broke the team curfew.

On Tuesday, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) confirmed Brunel decided to axe Anthony Belleau, Alexandre Lapandry, Arthur Iturria, Felix Lambey, Jonathan Danty, Louis Picamoles, Remi Lamerat and Teddy Thomas from the squad to face Italy on 23 February.

‘Jacques decided to exclude from this list the players who went out after the defeat in Scotland,’ read the FFR statement.

‘Through this inappropriate behaviour they did not respect their status as international players and the duties that come with that.’

This action comes after the France team’s departure flight was delayed on Monday so seven players could be interviewed as potential witnesses to an alleged sexual assault.

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