Harlequins were considering their options this morning after Tom Williams was suspended for 12 months and the club was fined €250,000 for faking a blood injury in last season’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster.
Williams was found to have faked a cut to his mouth, which allowed Harlequins to send specialist goal-kicker Nick Evans back onto the field with five minutes remaining and Leinster leading 6-5.
Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards plus two members of the club’s medical team — physiotherapist Steph Brennan and Dr Wendy Chapman — both had misconduct complaints dismissed.
Although Harlequins avoided being thrown out of the tournament and had 50 per cent
of the fine suspended for two years, the club were hit hard when the verdict was delivered last night.
A club statement said: “Harlequins are both surprised and disappointed at the decision by the ERC disciplinary committee to find Harlequins and Tom Williams guilty of misconduct — particularly so in the light of the acquittal of Dean Richards, Steph Brennan and Dr Wendy Chapman on similar or identical charges.
“The club and the player will consider their position in the light of the written judgement due to be handed down by the disciplinary committee.”
Both Williams and Harlequins have the right to appeal.
