Quins set to learn Cup fate

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Quins winger Tom Williams was found to have faked a cut mouth during the closing stages of last April's Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat by Leinster and was subsequently banned for 12 months, and the evidence he puts forward in his appeal today against that suspension could further damage the London club.

Quins must appear before the hearing after ERC disciplinary officer Roger O'Connor contested the level of sanction imposed for their role in the incident. O'Connor is believed to be seeking Quins' ejection from the 2009-10 Heineken Cup.

The act of faking a blood injury to Williams enabled substituted fly-half Nick Evans, a drop-goal specialist, to return to the field with five minutes remaining and Quins trailing 6-5.

A late drop-goal attempt was engineered for Evans but the New Zealand fly-half was struggling with a knee injury and pulled it wide.

O'Connor is appealing the decision to clear then Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards, club medic Dr Wendy Chapman and physiotherapist Steph Brennan, and is believed to be seeking the club's expulsion from the Heineken Cup.

Richards resigned last weekend, an act that has been read as an acceptance of responsibility following the incident that has caused huge embarrassment to Quins and rugby in general.

The club's reputation could be further tarnished when Williams gives evidence to contest the ban that left him shouldering most of the blame.

It is inconceivable that Williams was not acting on directions from his team's management and reports have claimed he will say on Monday that his mouth was deliberately cut moments after the match to cover up the scandal.