Thomond triumph key to Quins’ evolution, says Kingston

Harlequins head coach John Kingston believes his side’s recent success was built on their stunning victory at Thomond Park two years ago and insists that the spectre of Bloodgate will have no impact on their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster in April.

Harlequins are back in the last eight of Europe’s premier competition for the first time since they hosted Leinster in 2009 – a game in which wing Tom Williams bit on a fake blood capsule to send English rugby into meltdown.

Williams, director of rugby Dean Richards and the club doctor were all banned from the sport as a result, and Kingston admitted the incident set Quins’ development back by at least a year.