French embassy forced to step in after rugby stars left stranded at Bristol Airport

The conditioning coach, Manu Espiasse, was also reportedly caught up in the situation.

The two-time defending European champions are due to face Gloucester at Kingsholm at 8pm tonight in the Champions Cup.

British border officials were understood to have shown no willingness to bend the rules despite the circumstances, according to Agence France-Presse.

A source said: "The English authorities don't want to hear anything about it.

"We've told them that these are top-level athletes, including a well-known French international, who came to play a European Rugby Cup match, but they are inflexible."

The ETA system requires eligible travellers to obtain digital clearance before arriving in the UK, and authorities have declined to grant any exemption regardless of the players' high-profile status or the urgency of the fixture.

Bordeaux-Begles launched a concerted effort on both political and diplomatic fronts to break the deadlock.

The club reached out to the mayor of Bordeaux and the French embassy in London.

A source told AFP: "We have notified the authorities, the mayor of Bordeaux, Thomas Cazenave, and the French embassy in London to get things moving again."

Following their efforts, the quartet and Espiasse have been able to leave Bristol Airport.

The reigning champions have selected a strong side for tonight's encounter, headlined by the eyebrow-raising decision to deploy Tongan tighthead prop Ben Tameifuna in the second row.

The move represents a dramatic positional shift for one of rugby's most recognisable figures.

Gloucester have also assembled a good matchday squad.

Dewi Lake captains a team that includes Jac Morgan, Will Joseph, Ben Loader, and Seb and Charlie Atkinson.

World Cup winner Jean Kleyn starts at lock, while Arthur Clark returns from injury.