James O'Connor a 'good lad', says Australia coach Michael Cheika

Australia head coach Michael Cheika has insisted that Wallabies international James O'Connor is a "good lad" who needs help after being charged by French police for being in possession of cocaine.

O'Connor, 26, who has 44 caps for Australia, was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning along with former All Blacks lock Ali Williams after allegedly being found with 2.4g of cocaine outside a nightclub near the Champs Elysees in Paris.

The pair spent more than 24 hours in custody, with O'Connor subsequently fined for cocaine use by the Paris prosecutor's office the following day.

Former All Black Williams was suspended by club Racing 92 on Sunday before Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal confirmed on Tuesday that O'Connor was also suspended.

Cheika has taken a sympathetic approach to the issue, calling for O'Connor to receive help.

"It's disappointing isn't it, for him," Cheika told Fox Sports.

"If he wasn't he would be away doing other stuff, he wouldn't be in rugby, in a team sport, having the camaraderie around of being in that.

"There is a good lad in there and I think we just have to leave the footy out of it for a minute and let the guy get the assistance he needs, to get back personally first of all, and then we'll see about footy."

O'Connor has been at Toulon since 2015, and formerly spent a year with Aviva Premiership side London Irish during the 2013-14 season.

Toulon owner Boudjellal also conceded on Tuesday that he fears there could be a wider cocaine problem in French rugby after the arrests of O'Connor and Williams.

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