TWO amateur rugby players who died while on tour had taken heroin, a court in Sri Lanka has heard.

Thomas Howard, 25, and Thomas Baty, 26, died after visiting a nightclub in Colombo in May.

The BBC has reported that a magistrates' court in Columbo heard that there was evidence to suggest the men had been sold the drug.

According to their report, Lanka Jayaratna, magistrate for Colombo Fort, ordered police to further investigate and report back to her on August 3.

The men, who are both from Durham, were on tour with Clems Pirates RFC, a charity team associated with Durham City Rugby Club.

At the time, Sri Lankan police said some of the British players went to a nightclub following their first match against Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club (CRFC) in Colombo.

After returning to their hotel, the two men started having breathing difficulties and were taken to hospital, where they later died.

Mr Howard died on May 13 while Mr Baty died two days later on May 15.