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Bob Casey
Hoping for better things: Bob Casey's side lost the play-off final last season

Bloodgate has wounded us all, says Bob Casey

Chris Jones
28 Aug 2009


London Irish skipper Bob Casey believes the Harlequins' Bloodgate scandal had tainted every top English club.

Casey says the normal pre-season build-up has been dominated by the controversy created by Quins use of fake blood capsules which brought bans for full-back Tom Williams, former director of rugby Dean Richards and physio Steph Brennan.

The Rugby Football Union will today reveal details of their special task force which has been given the job of cleaning up the game following the Quins scandal and Bath's drug problems.

Casey said: "It reflects badly on all of us in the Premiership and we are guilty by association. I can only worry about my own team but I have to say the Premiership has taken a pounding this summer. If you look at the Welsh teams and the Irish provinces, none of this kind of thing has gone on, but we have had two massive incidents in our competition.

"I am sure it has portrayed the Premiership in a dim light and I cannot wait for the season to start and we can show people what a good competition this and the kind of spectacle we can produce, starting with the Double Header at Twickenham on 5 September when we take on Saracens and Harlequins face London Wasps."

Casey, whose side lost the play-off final last season, is glad for Irish to remain out of the spotlight as they prepare for another campaign.

He said: "I think we are going to be quite happy to remain 'boring' and just continue to reach finals and win one this time. We like to think we do things right on and off the pitch."

Danny Cipriani will play for London Wasps in a friendly away to Glasgow tonight in what will be his first match since the removal of the metal plate that helped repair his shattered ankle.

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