Richards criticised in damning judgement

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Former Harlequins rugby director Richards is strongly criticised in a written judgement of his European Rugby Cup appeal hearing, published on Wednesday.

ERC disciplinary officer Roger O'Connor appealed an original decision to find misconduct complaints against Richards and ex-Quins physiotherapist Steph Brennan not proven. A subsequent appeal committee then banned Richards for three years, imposed a two-year suspension on Brennan and also increased Quins' fine to 300,000 euro.

And Richards' role in 'Bloodgate' is now laid bare in a damning judgement running to almost 100 pages.

In their judgement, the appeal committee said: "Mr Richards was the directing mind and had central control over everything that happened in relation to the fabrication of the blood injury on the pitch, and the cover-up in the days after the match.

"The only aspect of the matter in which the appeal committee determined he did not have direct involvement was the alleged cutting of Mr Williams' lip by Dr (Wendy) Chapman.

"It was Mr Richards who had instigated and directed arrangements which enabled the fabrication of blood injuries as and when that was convenient and would assist the club during matches.

"In one of the highest profile matches in which the club had ever been involved, he was prepared to try to cheat Leinster out of a victory by bringing on a player at a crucial stage in the match when that player was not entitled to return to the field of play.

"He was quite disinterested in the consideration that by acting the way he did the club which deserved to win the match might be deprived of its victory."