Harlequins will not face RFU charge

The English Rugby Football Union (RFU) has announced Harlequins will face no further charges over the ‘bloodgate’ scandal…

The English Rugby Football Union (RFU) has announced Harlequins will face no further charges over the ‘bloodgate’ scandal.

The RFU's disciplinary chief Judge Jeff Blackett had been considering whether the actions of some club executives, including chief executive Mark Evans, had been prejudicial to the interests of the game.

But Blackett decided there was "insufficient evidence" to support a case of misconduct against the club or any senior officials, and he said: "As far as the RFU are concerned the matter is now closed."

The RFU took over the case after European rugby disciplinary officials had sanctioned those involved in the incident, when winger Tom Williams used a blood capsule to fake injury in last season's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster.

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Harlequins' former director of rugby Dean Richards was banned from the sport for three years, the physio Steph Brennan for two years and Williams received a four-month suspension.

The club was fined almost €298,000.