Heineken Cup / maxliu / 18 August 2009 / Leave a comment

Ex-Harlequins directory of rugby hit with lengthy ban after admitting fake blood scandal...

"Richards said he was surprised by the length of his ban - which prevents from coaching anywhere in Europe for three years - but took responsibility for his actions, saying: 'I had to hold my hands up.'"

Ex-Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards has been banned from coaching for three years after admitting his involvement in a "fake blood injury."

Richards, who resigned from his role at the Guinness Premiership club last weekend, was also found by ERC (European Rugby Cup) to have been involved in four similar incidents and this was key to the severity of his ban.

So far, Betfair's Guinness Premiership 2009/10 Winner market has remained indifferent to the scandal at The Stoop with Quins trading at [9.0], having drifted no higher than [9.4] and come in to a low of only [8.6]. In the Heineken Cup winner market, the Middlesex club can be matched at [34.0].

Ex-policeman and former-England no.8 Richards said he was surprised by the length of his ban - which prevents him from coaching in Europe for three years - but took responsibility for his actions, saying: "I had to hold my hands up."

The charges centred around an incident which occured late on in Harlequins' Heineken Cup defeat to Leinster last season when winger Tom Williams left the field with what looked like blood pouring from his mouth. The injury allowed specialist kicker Nick Evans, who had already been subsituted, to return to the field as replacement. However, suspicions that Williams had used a fake blood capsule to feign the wound were raised when he was seen winking at the bench as he left the field.

After the match, Williams, who has had his playing ban reduced from 12 to four months, revealed a cut to the face which later turned out to have been inflicted after he had left the field. Physio Steph Brennan has been banned for two years after admitting his part in the incident. Richards said that he was unaware of how Williams had sustained the cut.

Harlequins have been fined £295,000 but are relieved that they haven't been banned from this year's Heineken Cup - a penalty which would have cost them 15% of their income . However, in a statement on their website, the club said:

"Whilst the club are pleased that Tom Williams' ban has been reduced, we feel this is a very significant penalty in terms of fine."

Quins added that they hoped to now draw a line under the incident.

Meanwhile, in the Heineken Cup winner market, Munster are the favourites at [5.0] while reigning champions Leinster rate a [10.5] shot. Leicester Tigers are [3.6] market leaders for the Guinness Premiership.

Tags: Dean Richards banned for three years, Harlequins Blood Substitution scandal, Harlequins Rugby Union, Leicester Tigers, Nick Evans, rugby union bettting, Tom Williams