Owens' regret over 'Bloodgate'

Owens was in charge of last season's Heineken Cup quarter-final between Harlequins and Leinster at the Twickenham Stoop, when Quins wing Tom Williams bit on a blood capsule and faked injury to allow star kicker Nick Evans back on.

Owens, one of the world's leading referees, said: "Maybe looking back now I am a bit disappointed that I didn't (do more), but you didn't expect this sort of thing to happen, even though I had my suspicions as he (Evans) had been warming up."

The incident created monumental fall-out following Quins' desperate and illegal attempt to get the injured Evans back on the pitch to try and win a game they ultimately lost 6-5.

Owens added: "If the same thing happens again, I will certainly be more aware what we as officials need to do now.

"If there is any doubt, then we will have a look at the wound. At the time, though, I didn't and that is probably my one regret.

"I could see there was blood in Williams' mouth. It wasn't pouring out like you saw when he came off the field. I asked the physio if it was blood and he said 'yes it is, he has got a cut'.

"If I had seen what the footage showed, of Williams spitting blood out and winking, that would have aroused my suspicions even more and I would have done something then.

"I probably would have asked to have a look at it and asked Williams to wash his mouth out with water so I could see where the cut was. I would have stopped him and asked for further medical advice.

"But if the medical guy had said to me the cut was behind his teeth, then I would have taken his word because I am not medically trained."