The Rugby Football Union's ongoing investigation into the use of fake blood in rugby union has apparently shown the practice of fabricating injuries is rife in the game.
RFU disciplinary officer Judge Jeff Blackett has confirmed no further action will be taken against other players and clubs suspected of using fake blood to effect substitutions, despite at least four other previous instances being confirmed at Harlequins alone.
In a disclosure to the RFU, former Quins and England physion Steph Brennan revealed that he had been involved in four other uses of fake blood before the incident involving Tom Williams during the Leinster Heineken Cup quarter-final last season.
After being caught cheating, Brennan was forced to resign from his position with both club and country and banned from practicing for two years while Quins director of rugby Dean Richards resigned and was given a three-year ban.
However, Judge Blackett has taken the unusual step of admitting the practice is too widespread to single out Harleqins for punishment after an anonymous internal review within the club revealed players had been asked to partake in similar 'fake bloods' at other clubs.
'It is apparent from evidence provided to the Harlequins internal review by players who described practices in other teams in which they have played, that Harlequins is not the only club which may have been guilty of inappropriate behaviour of a similar kind,' Judge Blackett noted.
According to Brennan, fake blood is used for a variety of reasons including tactical substitutions and to protect the welfare of players on the pitch whose risk assessments on other injuries in order to continue playing cannot be made in the time available.
On some occasions the fake blood, he claims, is used to facilitate the withdrawal of a player for further and closer assessment of their fitness and wellbeing during games, without having to perform an irreversible substitution.
RFU chief executive Francis Baron has announced the establishment of a taskforce to look into the issue within the professional game.
'The review will be wide-ranging, thorough and recommendations [will be made] in the best interests of the whole game,' he said.
'Further details on members of the taskforce and its terms of reference will be announced very shortly.'
In his official written decision, Judge Blackett continued: 'In relation to the four players identified at the ERC appeal hearing I have decided not to take any further action.
'I have made this decision for the following reasons:
'First, on each occasion the decision to use fake blood was made by the team management and not the players themselves. Mr Richards and Mr Brennan have already been punished significantly and the length of their sanction reflects the fact that the matter before the ERC appeal panel was not isolated. Any further sanction against those two individuals for the other four occasions would be concurrent to the sanctions they have already received.
'Second, the players named by Mr Brennan have not had the opportunity to respond to any allegations against them. Before taking any disciplinary action a further investigation would be required and it would rely on the co-operation of Mr Brennan and Mr Richards. This would take some time and continue to attract comment and speculation which might further damage reputations.
'Third, the evidence which identifies those four players was obtained initially by Harlequins by a review which promised anonymity and immunity from disciplinary proceedings. If I now initiate disciplinary proceedings the players involved would have a strong argument that those proceedings were an abuse of process.
'Fourth, disciplinary action against these four players could deter other players who will be asked to assist the RFU review.
'Finally, the behaviours that led to these occasions will be considered as part of the wider RFU review.'
He added: 'For these reasons I do not believe it to be in the best interests of the game or the union either to publish the names of the players or to initiate disciplinary proceedings in relation to those occasions of alleged misconduct.'
RFU disciplinary officer Judge Jeff Blackett has confirmed no further action will be taken against other players and clubs suspected of using fake blood to effect substitutions, despite at least four other previous instances being confirmed at Harlequins alone.
In a disclosure to the RFU, former Quins and England physion Steph Brennan revealed that he had been involved in four other uses of fake blood before the incident involving Tom Williams during the Leinster Heineken Cup quarter-final last season.
After being caught cheating, Brennan was forced to resign from his position with both club and country and banned from practicing for two years while Quins director of rugby Dean Richards resigned and was given a three-year ban.
However, Judge Blackett has taken the unusual step of admitting the practice is too widespread to single out Harleqins for punishment after an anonymous internal review within the club revealed players had been asked to partake in similar 'fake bloods' at other clubs.
'It is apparent from evidence provided to the Harlequins internal review by players who described practices in other teams in which they have played, that Harlequins is not the only club which may have been guilty of inappropriate behaviour of a similar kind,' Judge Blackett noted.
According to Brennan, fake blood is used for a variety of reasons including tactical substitutions and to protect the welfare of players on the pitch whose risk assessments on other injuries in order to continue playing cannot be made in the time available.
On some occasions the fake blood, he claims, is used to facilitate the withdrawal of a player for further and closer assessment of their fitness and wellbeing during games, without having to perform an irreversible substitution.
RFU chief executive Francis Baron has announced the establishment of a taskforce to look into the issue within the professional game.
'The review will be wide-ranging, thorough and recommendations [will be made] in the best interests of the whole game,' he said.
'Further details on members of the taskforce and its terms of reference will be announced very shortly.'
In his official written decision, Judge Blackett continued: 'In relation to the four players identified at the ERC appeal hearing I have decided not to take any further action.
'I have made this decision for the following reasons:
'First, on each occasion the decision to use fake blood was made by the team management and not the players themselves. Mr Richards and Mr Brennan have already been punished significantly and the length of their sanction reflects the fact that the matter before the ERC appeal panel was not isolated. Any further sanction against those two individuals for the other four occasions would be concurrent to the sanctions they have already received.
'Second, the players named by Mr Brennan have not had the opportunity to respond to any allegations against them. Before taking any disciplinary action a further investigation would be required and it would rely on the co-operation of Mr Brennan and Mr Richards. This would take some time and continue to attract comment and speculation which might further damage reputations.
'Third, the evidence which identifies those four players was obtained initially by Harlequins by a review which promised anonymity and immunity from disciplinary proceedings. If I now initiate disciplinary proceedings the players involved would have a strong argument that those proceedings were an abuse of process.
'Fourth, disciplinary action against these four players could deter other players who will be asked to assist the RFU review.
'Finally, the behaviours that led to these occasions will be considered as part of the wider RFU review.'
He added: 'For these reasons I do not believe it to be in the best interests of the game or the union either to publish the names of the players or to initiate disciplinary proceedings in relation to those occasions of alleged misconduct.'
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