The France team’s departure flight from Edinburgh was delayed on Monday so certain players could be interviewed as potential witnesses to an alleged sexual assault.

France suffered a defeat to Scotland in the Six Nations on Sunday, and the plane carrying the players on their return to France was reportedly halted on the tarmac so that police could speak to several players.

‘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,’ a Scotland police statement read. ‘These inquiries have established that no crime has been committed.’

The flight was said to have departed after a two-hour delay.

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