Bloodgate

What has become known as the Harlequins ‘Bloodgate’ incident has rather crept up on me, but having spent a little time looking at the details of the story, it strikes me as one of the worst examples of cheating in sport I’ve ever come across, and in a sport renowned for its high standards of behaviour.

To summarise, during April’s Rugby Union Heineken Cup tie between Leinster and Harlequins, Leinster led 6-5 with five minutes to go. Harlequins had no experienced kicker on the field, having substituted their fly-half and had his replacement leave the field injured. Then wing Tom Williams appeared to have obtained a cut mouth, allowing a substitution under the ‘blood injury’ rule. Kicker Nick Evans replaced him, but failed with a dropkick attempt and Leinster held out to win.

It was later identified that Williams had been passed a fake blood capsule by physio Steph Brennan, on the instruction of Director of Rugby Dean Richards. Williams feigned injury, and was then led away by Brennan. Harlequins compounded the incident by having Williams mouth cut by medical staff after the game to avoid a check by officials. Further cover-ups followed, including an attempt to leave Williams adrift as a scapegoat during his disciplinary hearing.

Cheating happens in sport, but often incidents are ‘spur of the moment’ ( Maradona’s hand of god, even Mike Tyson’s ear-munching ). This was premeditated, and it seems that Harlequins have used the tactic four times before!

Richards has resigned and been given a three year ban. Brennan received a two year, and Williams has had his ban reduced from one year to four months. I would hope that the Rugby clubs in this country would uphold high enough standards to ensure Richards never holds a top position again. He condoned a policy of holding fake blood capsules in his physio’s kit bag, presumably for every game if they had been used five times. Take away doping incidents, and this is as premeditated an incident of cheating as you’re likely to come across.

And my worst incident of cheating? Another sport hardly renowned for skulduggery – Ice Skating. Remember Tonya Harding and Nanci Kerrigan? During the run up to the 1994 Olympics. Kerrigan was a rival to Harding in the US trials, and presumably Harding feared for her place. Easy – hire in a thug to give Kerrigan a whack across the knees. A life ban followed. Not good, although I’d understand if someone tried the same with Joey Barton.

Anyway, the V Festival at Weston Park for me this weekend. Best wishes to all on the betting front.