‘Fake injury’ Williams banned

HARLEQUINS full back, Tom Williams, has been slapped with a 12-month suspension after faking a blood injury during his side’s Heineken Cup quarter final against Leinster in April.

A three-man independent disciplinary committee found Harlequins and Williams guilty of misconduct under the 2008-09 Heineken Cup disciplinary rules.

The misconduct complaints, brought by Heineken Cup organisers ERC, concerned the blood substitution of replacement Williams in the 75th minute of the match.

The committee found that Williams fabricated a wound in order to allow Nick Evans to return to the field, describing the offence as “serious” and one “that damaged the reputation of the tournament and of Rugby Union”.

A fine of €250,000 was imposed on Quins, of which 50% is suspended for two years, while Williams is suspended from playing rugby for period of 12 months up to and including July 19 2010.

Misconduct complaints against Quins director of rugby, Dean Richards, and a doctor and physiotherapist were dismissed.