Harlequins have escaped a ban from the lucrative European Cup despite the fake blood scandal that has seen the English Premiership club hit with a massive fine and former rugby director Dean Richards banned for three years.
The Cup’s organisers, European Rugby Cup (ERC), ruled on Wednesday that there was “no reason to interfere with the participation of Harlequins in the 2009-10 European Cup”.
But they also warned that there could be further action against individuals at Quins when they meet again next week.
The ERC said in its appeal hearing of Richards that the 46-year-old former Leicester and England No.8 had been central to the blood cheating scandal.
Quins winger Tom Williams faked a blood injury to allow a substitution to be made in last April’s European Cup quarter-final against Leinster.
He was given a fake blood capsule in an attempt to get goal-kicker Nick Evans, who had earlier left the field injured, back into the action with the score at 6-5 in Leinster’s favour – the Irish province went on to win the game.
Quins were hit with a 260,000 pounds ($A507,860) fine, while Richards was forced to resign after being banned from rugby for three years and Williams was also given a four-month ban.
“Richards was the directing mind and had central control over everything that happened in relation to the fabrication of the blood injury on the pitch, and the cover-up in the days after the match,” the ERC said on Wednesday.
” … It was Mr Richards who had instigated and directed arrangements which enabled the fabrication of blood injuries as and when that was convenient and would assist the club during matches.
“In one of the highest profile matches in which the club had ever been involved, he was prepared to try to cheat Leinster out of a victory by bringing on a player at a crucial stage in the match when that player was not entitled to return to the field of play.
“He was quite disinterested in the consideration that by acting the way he did the club which deserved to win the match might be deprived of its victory.”
The ERC will meet next week to decide if there could be further action against individuals at Quins given that Richards had encouraged others to deliberately mislead the investigating bodies.
“Mr Richards arranged matters so that those who were charged with misconduct complaints would lie to the legal team and would then lie to the disciplinary hearing,” the ERC said.
“Mr Richards was by far and away the most experienced and senior individual involved.
“It was open to him at any stage to have said that ‘enough is enough’ and that the reputation of rugby and Harlequins had been sufficiently damaged.
“If he had admitted at any stage prior to the conclusion of the disciplinary hearing the truth of what had happened then the damage to individuals, the club and the game of rugby union would have been very much reduced.”
The RFU later announced they would take no further action until the ERC had made its final decisions.
Ben C
Guest
I particularly like the fact that Williams, who was not allowed to be cross-examined, claimed that he was offered a 'bribe' to keep quiet but admits he negotiated a better deal for himself. At the same time he was feeding information to the ERC. I am amazed his teammates haven't frozen him out.
Derm
Roar Guru
Ian - I thought from reading the media reports that it was over. The club has been censured, but that's it - no disqualification from H Cup, etc. Richards is the fall guy along with Jillings. (Have to say the more I read about the offers being made to Williams, the less I'm inclined to give credence to Jillings press statement and account of his behaviour. Too many inconsistencies.) I agree with VC absolutely on Williams. You wonder what intelligence he would bring to the rugby field after the way he has acted. Notwithstanding that his rep must be fairly low, no matter what his team-mates may say publicly. I can't see him lasting at Quins.
Ian Noble
Guest
VC Umaga claims that they learnt about blood capsules from the Aussies. It appears Manley used blood capsules in the 1987 Grand Final, I don't know about any Union side in OZ. Anyway for Quins it is not over as the ERC have reserved their position and the RFU may act after they have reviewed all the evidence. I just wish we could get on with rugby, can't wait for the London Double Header this weekend.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
Tom Williams has shown himself to be a complete and utter plonker. Only a fool of the highest order would actually wink as he left the field with a fake blood capsule in his mouth. Frankly, the man deserves to be drummed out of rugger for crimes against intelligence.
Ben C
Guest
The ERC have acted very poorly in the investigation. Tom Williams has not covered himself in glory either, bearing in mind he agreed to the deception and he asked for his mouth to be cut later to provide verisimilitude to the incident. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/6115173/Disciplinary-bodies-must-act-fairly-with-rugby-careers-on-the-line.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/aug/28/harlequins-tom-williams-dean-richards
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
A good decision. The poor blighters have suffered enough. Let's see the IRB now turn its attention to Tana Umaga and the other sly New Zealanders who introduced this nefarious practice into a once pristine game. So much that is unsettling about modern rugger - professionalism, cheating, obsessiveness - seems to emanate from the land of the long white cloud.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
a disgrace. the quins are front and centre responsible, geez, they were fined for their part, isnt that an indication as to their responsibility and part played, even if it was through incompetence,lack of oversight. ignorance is no plea