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Club owner claims French rugby has cocaine problem

Toulon owner spoke after arrests of world rugby stars Ali Williams and James O'Connor for allegedly trying to buy cocaine in Paris.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has claimed there is a cocaine problem within professional rugby in France, reports Sky Sports.

Boudjellal's comments come in the wake of the arrests of Racing 92 lock Ali Williams and Toulon back James O'Connor for allegedly trying to buy cocaine in Paris in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Former All Black Williams was suspended by Racing on Sunday and Boudjellal confirmed on Tuesday that Australia international O'Connor will not escape a similar fate.

"It's only my opinion, but I have the impression that in certain clubs and among many players, coke is very popular," Boudjellal told AFP.

"We've had the alcohol stage, now we're at another one. We can't support that. That needs to stop."

Read more of this report from Sky Sports.