Harlequins â€" the archtypal Corinthian club where fair play and good conduct were a by-word â€" are bracing themselves for a humiliating expulsion from the Heineken Cup and possibly further bans and severe financial penalties as the fall-out continues from the 'faked blood' injury to Tom Williams in their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster.
By Brendan Gallagher
Published: 5:31PM BST 09 Aug 2009
Moment of truth, or not: Tom Williams goes to ground with apparent blood in his mouth Photo: GETTY IMAGES Dean Richards's shock resignation as the club's director of rugby on Saturday after a belated internal inquiry by Harlequins strongly suggests complicity by the former England No 8 and members of the club other than Williams who thus far is the only Quin to be disciplined, receiving a one-year ban from European Rugby Cup after being found found guilty of faking a mouth injury which required him to leave the field.
This apparent admission of guilt by Quins was then underlined by their announcement, also on Saturday, that although the club will back Williams's appeal against the disproportionate length of the ban, they will not be contesting the decision
per se.
Therefore, as ERC prepares to revist the case, it is probable that Harelquins will be severely hit on all fronts. A ban from the European Cup of between one and three seasons is likely â€" which would be a considerable financial blow in itself â€" and angry ERC officials are also likely to demand payment in full of the original £215,000 fine.
Originally 50 per cent of that amount was suspended for two years when ERC ruled on the case last month but in the light of recent developments they may not be feeling so sympathetic. ERC also have the option of imposing further fines after what they may perceive as Harlequins' unhelpful attitude in the entire episode.
The ERC's citing officer, Roger O'Connor, has in turn appealed the level of sanction imposed on Harlequins and the decision of the disciplinary panel to dismiss misconduct charges against Richards, team doctor Wendy Chapman and club physiotherapist Steph Brennan.
There is also the possibility of further individual bans. Williams clearly could not have been acting alone in such an elaborate ruse which involved the wing biting a 'blood capsule' to simulate a facial injury five minutes from time of their Heineken Cup quarter-final, a deception designed to get Nick Evans, their injured goal kicker and dropped goal specialist, back on the field as the Quins trailed 6-5 going into the final stages.
Indeed it is understood that it was Harlequins's refusal to come clean and apparent willingness to allow Williams to take all the blame that incensed the ERC panel.
Richard's resignation, with no ringing endorsement or words of thanks from Harlequins after three years of massive growth and improvement, suggests complicity and guilt and ERC will want to question him closely on that, while it seems implausibe that others at Quins were not aware of what was going on or indeed actually participated in the scam.
O'Connor originally cited not only Williams and Richards but also Chapman and Brennan who would have been required to treat and assess Williams's 'injury' before a replacement was called. Could they be duped by a blood capsule?
Harlequins' refusal to acknowledge that there had been an irregularity â€" Leinster coach Michael Cheika immediately questioned the replacement in the post-match press conference â€" and their initial refusal to mount an internal investigation into allegations of cheating followed by their their decision to allow Williams to take all the blame during the ERC's disciplinary hearing is unlikely to sit well with the ERC panel when they reconvene at a date to be decided.
Williams's appeal against the length of his ban is now likely to become the occasion on which everything else is put back on the table â€" his major defence will be that he was but a pawn in an elaborate game being instigated by others higher placed than he.
On top of the ERC disciplinary procedure, the Rugby Football Union might also now feel obliged to get involved as Harlequins' actions could be construed as bringing the wider English game into disrepute.
POSSIBLE FURTHER HARLEQUINS SANCTIONS
- Ban from Heineken Cup: 1-3 years
- Suspended half of existing £215,000 fine also to be paid
- Additional fine for obstructing the ERC disciplinary process
- RFU investigation of bringing the game into disrepute
INDIVIDUAL BANS
Wing Tom Williams is to appeal the 12-month ban for his part in the fake blood injury. He is supported by Harlequins who claim it is disproportional but the club are not contesting his guilt. Following Richards' resignation, Williams is now free to claim that he was not acting alone and was following orders from one or more persons in authority.
TO BE DECIDED
The conduct of Dean Richards (former director of rugby), Wendy Chapman (club doctor), Steph Brennan (physiotherapist) will come under close scrutiny during Williams's appeal. ERC have appealed against their own disciplinary committee's decision to dismiss charges against Richards, Chapman and Brennan but this is now likely to be included in the Williams appeal when all interested parties could be required to attend.[/b]
