Testimony Implicates Harlequins Management
The management team of Harlequins, the rugby union club at the centre of the storm over the use of fake blood to enforce a substitution, are facing calls to resign after winger Tom Williams’ testimony claimed that he was put under immense pressure not to give ‘full disclosure’ about the incident.
The publication of Williams’ testimony, released by the European Cup Rugby, reveals that the 26-year old winger claims to have been offered a new four-year contract plus other benefits by Harlequins chief executive Mark Evans and chairman Charles Jillings if he appealed solely against the length of his ban and did not implicate the club.
Williams, who had his one-year ban reduced to four months on appeal, also admitted he asked for his mortgage to be paid in return for agreeing to the demands.
Having recently drawn a line under the case in terms of punishments, the Rugby Football Union could now consider further action against the club.
The RFU’s disciplinary chief, Judge Jeff Blackett, has already deemed that Harlequins’ former director of rugby Dean Richards, banned for three years, and physio Steph Brennan – banned for two – were responsible for the decisions and had already been punished.
The governing body’s disciplinary chief opted not to investigate four other occasions Quins used fake blood although a ‘game-wide’ review of the use of blood substitutions has been implemented.
The RFU will await details of European Rugby Cup’s own appeal over the initial sanctions before deciding ‘next steps’.
In a statement following the publication of Williams’ testimony, the RFU’s disciplinary officer Judge Blackett said: ‘Today’s statement introduces new information into the equation which we were not aware of.
‘The material we reviewed over the weekend related only to the additional four occasions on which fake blood was used.
‘On these new allegations, difficult though it might be, we must have the full information before we decide on next steps.’
The RFU stressed it will wait until full details are published of the ERC’s own appeal against the level of sanctions imposed on Harlequins and the decision to initially dismiss misconduct complaints against Richards, Dr Wendy Chapman and physiotherapist Steph Brennan.
‘We would stress…that, at the current time, this remains in ERC’s jurisdiction and the RFU is not in position to take any further steps until all the judgements have been issued.’
Richards resigned from his position on 8th August and admitted ordering the fake blood incident during a 14-hour independent committee meeting in Glasgow on 17th August.
Williams feigned injury by chewing a fake blood capsule to allow fly-half and goal-kicker Nick Evans to return to the field with five minutes remaining.
Television cameras picked up Williams winking towards the bench as he was helped from the field, with ‘blood’ smeared around his mouth.
The investigation into that incident uncovered evidence of four similar offences by Harlequins players in other matches – three times with fake blood gauzes and once, as with Williams, with a blood capsule.
However Blackett ruled that neither the players involved nor the club would suffer further sanctions, noting that the practice was not limited to Harlequins.
