Bloodgate

Bloodgate was a rugby union scandal involving English team Harlequins in their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Irish side Leinster on 12 April 2009. It was so called because of the use of fake blood capsules. In April 2019 the BBC described it as "rugby's biggest scandal".[1]

Events

Seven minutes into the second half of their 2008–09 Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster, Harlequins fly-half Nick Evans suffered a thigh injury and was replaced by Chris Malone. However, Malone tore his hamstring 20 minutes later, and was replaced by wing Tom Williams, leaving full-back Mike Brown as the best available kicking option. With eight minutes to play and the score at 6–5 to Leinster, Brown had the chance to give Harlequins the lead from a penalty, but he pushed his kick wide. Williams himself then came off with an apparent blood injury, allowing Evans to return to the field despite having been substituted earlier; however, his late drop goal attempt went wide and Leinster went on to win the game.

Aftermath

An investigation by the European Rugby Cup and the Rugby Football Union revealed that blood injuries had also been faked by Harlequins to enable tactical substitutions on four previous occasions. These findings resulted in a 12-month ban for Williams (reduced to four months on appeal[2]), a three-year ban for former director of rugby Dean Richards and a two-year ban for physiotherapist Steph Brennan, as well as a £260,000 fine for the club.[3][4] Club chairman Charles Jillings subsequently tendered his resignation,[5] while club doctor Wendy Chapman was suspended by the General Medical Council pending a disciplinary panel hearing into her cutting of Williams' lip to hide his use of the blood capsule.[6] On 2 September 2009, it was reported that Harlequins had escaped being thrown out of the Heineken Cup following the scandal when the European Rugby Cup board said they approved of the penalties already handed out.[7]

Mark Evans, chief executive of Harlequin FC said:

You would be incredibly naive to think (the Bloodgate stigma) will ever disappear completely. Things like that don't. They become part of history and, like good or bad seasons, are woven into the fabric of any club.[8]

Richards resigned from his post at Harlequins over the incident in which it was acknowledged that he had orchestrated and had "central control".[9][10] He was given a three-year suspension from coaching as punishment.[11] The International Rugby Board (IRB) also confirmed that they would apply the ban to rugby union worldwide.[12]

Dr Chapman, the medic who cut Williams' lip, appeared before the General Medical Council charged with alleged conduct likely to bring the profession into disrepute.[13] The appearance resulted in Dr Chapman being warned but allowed to continue practising medicine.[14]

References
  1. "Bloodgate 10 years on: Tom Williams on rugby's biggest scandal". 11 April 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  2. "European Rugby Cup - Decision of appeal committee in appeal by Tom Williams held at the Radisson SAS Hotel, 301 Argyle Street, Glasgow - 17 August 2009" (PDF). Retrieved 27 May 2013.
  3. "Quins escape further action in bloodgate scandal". AFP. Retrieved 25 August 2009.
  4. Roycroft-Davis, Chris (18 August 2009). "Harlequins have let down all of rugby". The Times.
  5. "Quins chairman falls on his sword over 'Bloodgate'". The Independent. 29 August 2009.
  6. 'Bloodgate' doctor is suspended BBC News, 16 September 2009
  7. "Harlequins avoid ban from Europe". BBC Sport. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  8. "Bloodgate Scandal will Forever Haunt Quins". BBC Sport. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  9. "Bloodgate: Dean Richards had 'central control', says judgment of ERC hearing".
  10. "Richards resigns Harlequins post".
  11. "Richards banned for three years".
  12. "Dean Richards handed worldwide ban". The Times. London. 18 August 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
  13. "Bloodgate doc: I sliced his lip open". Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  14. "Bloodgate doctor Wendy Chapman given warning by disciplinary panel". The Guardian. London. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
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