Across The Gain Line . . . with Colm Kinsella

ONE wise guy this week said he felt the European Rugby Cup (ERC) Limited had done a bloody good job in their handling of the matter, but the Harlequins ‘Bloodgate’ incident is no laughing matter for Guinness Premiership club ‘Quins and all the individuals caught up in the saga. And, the worrying thing from a rugby perspective is that this form of cheating may have more commonplace in the game - at ‘Quins at least - in recent times than many believed.
For those unaware of the story, former Harlequins Director of Rugby Dean Richards has been left reeling after an ERC independent appeals committee handed him a three-year suspension after he was found to be at the centre of the scandal which saw winger Tom Williams fake a cut in Harlequins’ Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Leinster in April. And, during the hearing at Glasgow’s Radisson Hotel this week, Richards - along with former ‘Quins physio Steph Brennan - was found to have been involved in four similar incidents in non-European Rugby Cup games, hence the severity of the ban.
Brennan was handed a two-year ban for his part in the scandal while Williams had his initial suspension cut from 12 months to four by the independent committee. The bans currently only apply to ERC-run tournaments, however the committee will request that it is extended worldwide.
Richards, who resigned as ‘Quins director of rugby following an internal investigation, will now take some time before deciding if he will appeal the decision.
Late on in the Heineken Cup last eight clash last April, blood is seen streaming from the mouth of ‘Quins wing Tom Williams. The score is 6-5 to Leinster. The referee consents to his departure from the field as a blood injury.
As he departs, Williams appears to wink to the bench. This gesture arouses the suspicions of ERC. Sky later submit unseen footage that apparently shows Williams moments earlier taking something from his sock and putting it into his mouth. In a radio interview, former Irish prop, Paul Wallace said he saw Williams reach down into his sock then put his hand to his mouth, the inference being that Williams took the fake blood capsule from his sock and placed it in his mouth.
Williams’ substitution means that fly-half Nick Evans can return to the field. Evans had already been taken off, but the fact that Williams was coming off as a blood replacement means he can legitimately come back on. However, he misses his drop-goal attempt for victory.
Williams recently revealed details of how Richards and physio Steph Brennan, now employed by the England team, colluded to fake a blood injury in the game.
Williams alleged that he was subsequently cut in the mouth by a club official as part of an attempt to make real the fake injury. The identity of the individual he named will be made public when the ERC committee publishes its full judgment.
The Professional Rugby Players’ Association in England has claimed the ‘Bloodgate’ scandal has left an ‘indelible stigma’ on the game.
PRA chief executive, Damian Hopley insist there is no place in rugby for ‘orchestrated or fabricated cheating.’
He said: “We are grateful to the ERC disciplinary panel that Tom’s (Williams) 12-month ban has been reduced on appeal, but the aftermath of this episode has left an indelible stigma on the professional game. The players have an increasing responsibility to act as role models for the sport and must take a leading role in restoring the sport’s damaged image and integrity.”
“There is no place for orchestrated or fabricated cheating in rugby and the players welcome today’s findings as an overdue wake up call and very strong deterrent.”
Quins’ fine was increased to £259,000, but the ERC stopped short of the ultimate sanction of throwing them out of this season’s Cup. The original fine of €250,000 (£206,000) had been half suspended, but the new amount is payable in full. However, Harlequins will be relieved not to have been thrown out of this season’s Heineken Cup.
The pressures on rugby coaches and players to do well in the modern professional era are huge. Rugby and all those who believe in sportsmanship should just be thankful that Leinster prevailed in this game.
Imagine the outcry if the Irish province had lost out to a late penalty goal or drop goal in that quarter-final clash.