Richards tight-lipped after three-year ban

Dean Richards has refused to reveal whether there was a systematic attempt to fake blood injuries at Harlequins despite his three-year ban for doing it on five separate occasions.

Richards’ coaching career was in tatters last night after the 46-year-old admitted his part in the ’Bloodgate’ scandal at an ERC independent appeals committee, which lasted almost 14 hours at Glasgow’s Radisson Hotel.

The former Quins director of rugby was found to be at the centre of a cover-up over an incident in the club’s Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Leinster in April in which winger Tom Williams faked a facial cut.

Richards was also found to have been involved in four similar incidents, hence the severity of his punishment, which applies to ERC-organised tournaments but which the independent appeals committee will request is extended worldwide.

Richards, who resigned last weekend, refused to comment on whether faking blood injuries was part of an concerted club strategy.

He also denied any knowledge of Williams’ face being deliberately cut after the April 12 Leinster game to hide the fact the player had used a fake blood capsule on the field of play.