Williams reveals extent of Quins cover-up

TOM WILLIAMS has revealed the extent of the pressure he felt under from Harlequins not to make a full disclosure on the events behind the ‘Bloodgate’ scandal.

Quins wing Williams told an independent appeals committee last week the club had offered him a new four-year contract plus other benefits and claimed in his written testimony, which was released yesterday, that Quins chief executive Mark Evans and chairman Charles Jillings had asked him to consider a limited appeal solely against the length of his ban.

Williams was initially handed a 12-month ban – reduced to four months after appeal – for chewing a fake blood capsule during the April 12 game against Leinster in the Heineken Cup.