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Paris - Former All Black Ali Williams and Australian international James O'Connor were facing their second night in custody in Paris on Sunday for alleged possession of cocaine, police said.
The pair, who play in France's Top 14 rugby league, were arrested at 3:00am Paris time on Saturday outside a nightclub near the Champs Elysees and found to be in possession of two grams (0.07 ounces) of cocaine, according to police.
Plain-clothes officers saw Williams in a car with two suspected drug dealers while O'Connor was outside and appeared to be acting as a lookout, police said.
When they were challenged, Williams attempted to get rid of the cocaine by throwing it away, added a police source who said the two players had clearly been drinking.
The pair are being held at a Paris police station and the suspected dealers were also detained.
Police said €180 changed hands in the transaction and a source close to the investigation said that under French law suspects can be detained for questioning for 24 hours with a possible further 24-hour extension.
Williams earned 77 New Zealand caps between 2002 and 2012 and plays in the second row for French club Racing 92.
He was part of the All Black team that won the 2011 World Cup.
O'Connor, 26, who plays on the wing or at fullback for Top 14 rivals Toulon, appeared 44 times for Australia between 2008 and 2013.
He made his debut at 18, the second youngest Wallaby in Australian rugby history.
Racing released a statement on Saturday saying Williams, 35, had been suspended indefinitely but Toulon said they would wait before deciding whether to discipline O'Connor.
