Harlequins have said they are keen to draw a line under the blood substitution controversy that saw their former coach banned for three years.
Ex-England international forward Dean Richards was handed a 36-month suspension from coaching after he was found guilty of presiding over the illegal substitution of Tom Williams against Leinster in the Heineken Cup quarter-final last season.
The incident saw Williams given a capsule to bite down on and fake a blood injury, allowing star kicker Nick Evans to re-enter the field of play.
After being caught cheating, Williams was given a 12-month ban - later reduced to four months on appeal – and club physio Steph Brennan, who gave Williams the capsule, has been banned for two years.
The club have been given a fine of 300,000 euro (£250,000) and although a Quins spokesman admitted the Londoners were 'pleased' with the appeal outcome in reducing Williams' ban, he described the financial punishment as 'very significant'.
He continued: 'We will now continue with our internal review into all aspects of the business to ensure that we have the most stringent compliance and robust policies and processes in place throughout the club and work towards rebuilding our reputation on and off the field.
'We hope that the club can now draw a line under what has been a difficult few months, learn from it and move on.'
Ex-England international forward Dean Richards was handed a 36-month suspension from coaching after he was found guilty of presiding over the illegal substitution of Tom Williams against Leinster in the Heineken Cup quarter-final last season.
The incident saw Williams given a capsule to bite down on and fake a blood injury, allowing star kicker Nick Evans to re-enter the field of play.
After being caught cheating, Williams was given a 12-month ban - later reduced to four months on appeal – and club physio Steph Brennan, who gave Williams the capsule, has been banned for two years.
The club have been given a fine of 300,000 euro (£250,000) and although a Quins spokesman admitted the Londoners were 'pleased' with the appeal outcome in reducing Williams' ban, he described the financial punishment as 'very significant'.
He continued: 'We will now continue with our internal review into all aspects of the business to ensure that we have the most stringent compliance and robust policies and processes in place throughout the club and work towards rebuilding our reputation on and off the field.
'We hope that the club can now draw a line under what has been a difficult few months, learn from it and move on.'
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