Justin Harrison told Sky Sports News he will support troubled Bath team-mate Matthew Stevens in any way he can.
Coach Meehan to reflect on issue after crunch clash with Toulouse
Bath lock Justin Harrison has pledged to fully support troubled team-mate Matthew Stevens in any way he can.
Prop Stevens has been suspended from all rugby after confirming to on Tuesday that he had failed a drugs test.
The England international's emotional confession has overshadowed the build-up to Bath's massive Heineken Cup clash with Toulouse on Sunday.
However, Harrison insists his preparations have not been affected as the Guinness Premiership club look to seal a place in the knockout stages in Europe.
Courage
The Australian second-rower did praise Stevens for showing "enormous amounts of courage and character" in talking publicly about his situation.
"I wouldn't say it's been a distraction for me personally," he told
Sky Sports News. "It has all the ingredients of possibly providing one but my life operates alongside rugby, not because of it.
"Most importantly, my character and integrity has been enhanced by having been associated with Matt Stevens
"In three minutes of television interview he showed he has an enormous amount of courage and character. That's something that I couldn't hope to summon in my darkest hour, and he has, somehow.
"My role as a rugby player for Bath is to perform as well as I can on Sunday and get myself in a position to do that. But my role as a human being, and as a mate of Matt's, is to support him in anyway I can.
"Anything I can do to take the load of his shoulders in the next few months I will do gladly and with passion."
Reflection
Bath coach Steve Meehan also offered his support to Stevens, who will face a disciplinary hearing in the near future and could be banned for as long as two years.
"Perhaps after this weekend I'll reflect on it and see where we are at," he said.
"It's obviously disappointing. He's someone that I've enjoyed having a round - I have a good laugh with him.
"We'll certainly support him in any way we can but for the time being there is so much we're unaware of in terms of the hearing dates and everything else, we don't know exactly what's going to happen."
