A former All Black and former Wallaby have reportedly been arrested in Paris on suspicion of trying to buy cocaine.

Ali Williams, who plays and advises French rugby team Racing 92, and James O'Connor, who plays for Toulon, had been partying in the city centre during a break from the Top 14 competition.

French news channel La Chaine Info said the pair were arrested in front of a nightclub near the Champs-Elysees just after 3am on Saturday local time.

A police source told Reuters that they were taken into custody and were expected to be held for up to 24 hours.

The news agency also quoted an unnamed judicial source as saying that both players were drunk when they were arrested and they were not carrying identification papers.


Williams, 35, and O'Connor, 26, were attempting to buy drugs worth about €200 (£170), the source said.

The two suspected dealers were also arrested.

Williams played 77 matches for the All Black between 2002 and 2012. He retired after the 2014-15 season for Toulon in France, with O'Connor as a teammate, but has returned to action this season.

O'Connor played 44 matches for the Wallabies since 2008 but moved to London Irish for a season in 2013. He is in his second season at Toulon.