Richards gets three-year ban for fake blood fiasco
FORMER Harlequins boss Dean Richards was last night banned from coaching for three years for his part in the club’s faking of a blood injury during last season’s Heineken Cup.
Winger Tom Williams, whose mouth wound during April’s quarter-final defeat to Leinster was found to have been fabricated, had his 12-month suspension reduced to four months by governing body ERC’s appeal committee.
But Quins had their fine increased from €250,000 (£215,000), half of which had been suspended, to €300,000 (£259,000) to be paid in full by 1 December, following the hearing in Glasgow. The verdicts are final and cannot be appealed.
The punishments apply to ERC-sanctioned competitions only but ERC said it would press for them to be imposed worldwide.
Richards, who was also accused by the panel of being involved in four similar previous incidents, said last night: “I’m surprised. Three years is a long time but I’ll reflect on it overnight. I took full responsibility for it. It was a farcical situation. It didn’t pan out particularly well on the day. But I had to hold my hands up.”
Richards, 46, resigned earlier this month despite escaping punishment when ERC delivered its initial judgement. But Williams brought new evidence to the table at yesterday’s appeal hearing, dramatically changing the verdict.
Williams was withdrawn during the 6-5 defeat to Leinster with a bloody mouth, allowing them to bring specialist goal-kicker Nick Evans back onto the field.
Ex-Leicester boss Richards yesterday admitted faking the injury and organising a cover-up of the incident. England and ex-Quins physio Steph Brennan also admitted faking and covering up the injury, and was given a two-year ban. The committee also heard that Richards and Brennan had orchestrated similar incidents before.
“During the hearing it was disclosed that there had been four previous occasions in non-ERC tournaments in which Mr Richards and Mr Brennan had fabricated a wound or blood injury,” read the judgement. “Details will be passed to the relevant tournaments organiser.”