An England rugby union player has been arrested on suspicion of raping a teenager who had allegedly been drugged.

Officers swooped to arrest the player on Sunday following reports of an attack at a nightclub the previous day. The athlete, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was quizzed along with a woman, 41. The woman had been held on suspicion of administering a substance with intent to cause a sexual offence.

Both are said to have been released on bail while detectives continue their investigations. Telegraph Sport has contacted the RFU for comment, but the player is not believed to be a member of Eddie Jones’ last England squad.

“Officers were called shortly before 11am on Sunday January 9 to a report of a sexual assault on a female,” a police spokesperson said in a statement sent to the Daily Mail newspaper. “A woman in her late teens was reported to have been sexually assaulted.

“A man was arrested on suspicion of rape and a woman was arrested on suspicion of administering a substance with intent to cause a sexual offence.

“Both have since been released on bail as enquiries continue and a number of lines of enquiry are being followed up by detectives.”

The player was not expected to be involved in the upcoming Six Nations, which have received a boost after Scotland promised restrictions on crowds at outdoor sporting events will be lifted by Jan 17.

In a decision driven by the Government’s “cautious optimism” over the way things have evolved since the measures were first put in place, Nicola Sturgeon gave the green light for Murrayfield to be able to hold a full house when Scotland host England and France.

The decision was welcomed by the Scottish Rugby Union, which would have stood to lose millions if home matches were played without crowds. Sturgeon’s move to lift the ban on crowds will increase pressure on Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford to follow suit.

Following the rape arrest, anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111