Laporte: give De Villiers a chance

PROP Pieter De Villiers has not been ruled out of international rugby union indefinitely after testing positive for ecstasy and cocaine, French coach Bernard Laporte insisted yesterday.

De Villiers will miss the defending Six Nations champions’ opening match against England at Twickenham on February 15 after testing positive for the recreational drugs. He has denied knowingly taking any banned substances.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen. The man deserves to be defended,” Laporte said after announcing his 22-player squad for the England match. “Pieter helped French rugby a lot and we can help him to recover.”