Rugby pair held in cocaine deal bust

Former All Blacks lock Ali Williams and former Australian back James O’Connor (above) were arrested on Friday night in Paris on suspicion of attempting to buy cocaine, police and judicial sources said.

The two were apprehended by police officers of the French Anti-Crime Brigade at 3.00am in the Paris 16th district and placed in custody, a police source said. They are expected to be held for up to 24 hours, they added.

A judicial source said both players were drunk at the time of their arrest. The source added that they were attempting to buy drugs worth about €200 and that the two sellers were arrested.

Williams, 35, plays with French club Racing 92, while O’Connor, 26, plays for Toulon.