Quins chief pleads for leniency ahead of European hearing

HARLEQUINS chief executive Mark Evans has pleaded for his club not to be thrown out of European competition before Monday’s appeal hearing into the fake blood scandal.

European Rugby Cup (ERC) Ltd disciplinary officer Roger O’Connor has lodged an appeal against Harlequins’ €250,000 fine — with 50% suspended — in the belief it was too lenient.

In an open letter of apology to supporters, Evans insisted Harlequins had been punished severely enough and deserved their place in this season’s Heineken Cup. He also reiterated the club’s support for Tom Williams, who is appealing against his 12-month ban for fabricating a cut to his mouth.

Evans wrote: “Our focus as a club now is to reduce Tom Williams’ ban, which we felt was disproportionate, and to ensure that we do not get expelled from European rugby.

“The club have accepted the findings of the initial ERC inquiry and accepted the sanction.

“The scale of the sanction is unprecedented in the game — and the severity of the fine is a clear message, not only to our club but to the game as a whole, that this type of behaviour is not acceptable and will be severely punished.

“We entirely agree with that message and sincerely hope that no further sanctions are imposed upon a club whose presence in the Heineken Cup is based on playing merit and playing merit alone.”

Evans revealed the club have written a letter to Leinster to “apologise unreservedly” for the incident. He did the same to the club’s supporters yesterday and vowed to rebuild.

Evans added that the internal review into the incident, which led to the resignation of Dean Richards as director of rugby, is ongoing.

He thanked Richards for his contribution to the club and expressed a wish that his reputation not be stained forever by one mistake.

Harlequins number eight Nick Easter admitted the club has been rocked by the fake blood scandal and the sudden departure of Richards.

“The club is shocked. Everyone has taken a hammering,” said Easter. “It is upsetting and disruptive. What Deano has done over the last few years has been tremendous. He was massively influential for me. We were going forward; everyone realises that. It is sad he is going.”

Easter added that the Harlequins squad have rallied around Williams.

“The guy has been under tremendous strain about the whole thing.

“We went out for lunch with him yesterday and had a relaxed time and he seemed better in the company of the players rather than thinking about it all the time.

“To be stuck in the middle of it, you certainly wouldn’t want it to happen to you.”

Williams’ decision to appeal is set to shine the spotlight back on Richards and two club medics, who all had misconduct charges dropped at the original hearing due to a lack of evidence.

John Kingston has been placed in temporary charge at Quins, who open their Premiership campaign against Wasps on September 5.