We are determined to restore the proud name of Harlequins

In my opinion, Quins faced an even tougher period four years ago when we were relegated and we came through that enormous test of our character, emerging a stronger club.

I am confident that will be the case this season when we are going to have to pull even tighter together as a squad and become a better club for what has happened.

Opposition supporters may shout abuse and comments, but I have no doubt we will handle whatever comes our way because I know the type of characters we have at this club - we are a tough bunch of guys. We will let our rugby do the talking and there are inquiries currently ongoing within the club and the RFU to ensure that nothing else will harm the sport's image.

Last season we did well in the Heineken Cup and beat Stade Francais home and away while reaching the last eight, got to the semi-finals of the Guinness Premiership and had players winning international recognition with England and the Lions.

As a squad, we are committed to achieving even more to reward our amazing fans who will be able to enjoy a newly built South Stand at the Twickenham Stoop and have responded with even more season ticket sales than last season and our Academy is producing outstanding talent to highlight the positive stories that are coming out of this club.

I believe it would have been harsh if we had been kicked out of the Heineken Cup because we added a lot of value to the competition and are still a strong brand, despite the events of the summer.

Of course we are disappointed by what happened against Leinster but, as a club, we are all committed to ensuring that never happens again and we must draw line under the whole affair. We have to make sure that when Harlequins are mentioned it will be for our impressive results in the major competitions, not blood bins or disciplinary hearings.

Because it was a quite a long process there hasn't been that big an impact on the Quins players, with just Tom Williams being questioned, so the rest of the squad were detached from the whole situation.

Then we had the first announcement and the harsh 12-month ban for Tom and the club fine and then the second, most recent hearing, that saw Tom's banned reduced to four months, the fine increased and director of rugby Dean Richards banned for three years.

While the loss of Dean is a big blow for the club, on a day-to-day basis it has always been the coaches who deal with us in training and that is still the situation as we prepare for what is going to be an amazing season.

Dean did a huge amount of work away from the pitch as director of rugby with contracts, recruitment and linking with the board. He had a huge influence on my career and I thank him for helping me achieve success with Quins, England and the Lions and I feel extremely sorry that he has received that ban.

While I cannot comment on the particular details of the Leinster game, under the pressure of that match, Dean made a decision he now regrets and I would hate for that one action to seriously affect one of the great servants of the game.

It has been a difficult summer for rugby, with an eye gouging incident on my Lions tour to South Africa, the Bath drugs bans and our own situation.

It means rugby has entered an unprecedented period when a lot of attention is on the sport.

Maybe, rugby has been given a bit of a kick up the backside and perhaps rules have been slightly bent by clubs in the past, but given what has happened at Quins and Bath, people will realise you can't take risks any more.