“No crime has been committed.”

The French national team were temporarily grounded in Edinburgh this morning after Scottish police removed a number of players from the plane to question them over allegations of a sexual assault.

It was initially reported by a number of media outlets that a brawl had taken place on a night out, after France’s defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield yesterday.

But Police Scotland have not clarified that no crime had taken place.

“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 spokesman said

“These inquiries have established that no crime has been committed.”

The France squad’s charter flight to Paris had been due to depart at 11am but it eventually took off at 1pm, after the police had concluded their investigations.