RFU to take no further action against Harlequins players

Rugby Digest:THE ENGLISH Rugby Football Union's disciplinary chief has decided to take no further action against Harlequins players allegedly involved in four episodes of using fake blood.

Quins are still reeling from lengthy bans dished out by European Rugby Cup Limited to their former rugby director Dean Richards, ex-physiotherapist Steph Brennan and current wing Tom Williams.

The suspensions followed Williams’ fake blood injury during their Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster last season.

Quins were also fined €298,000, but they avoided the ultimate sanction of expulsion from this season’s European club competition.

RFU disciplinary officer, Judge Jeff Blackett, has now reviewed documentation from ERC relating to allegations of occasions additional to the Leinster game when fake blood was used by Quins. Blackett said: “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.”

And RFU chief executive Francis Baron confirmed the setting up of a “game-wide taskforce” to review recent damaging issues in English rugby. Baron added: “As the governing body for rugby in England, some of the evidence disclosed to ERC and Judge Blackett, alongside other high profile issues in the professional game, meant the RFU had to act.

“We will be setting up a game-wide taskforce to review all issues associated with recent events. The review will be wide-ranging, thorough and the recommendations in the best interests of the whole game.

-GAVIN HENSON has claimed he intends returning to rugby "before too long". Henson is on leave from Welsh regional side the Ospreys as he works towards full fitness following a succession of injury setbacks.

The latest – an ankle ligament problem – ended all hope of him being considered for the British and Irish Lions’ tour to South Africa earlier this summer.

It was reported by a national newspaper in Britain last month that Henson intended to announce his retirement at the age of 27, so disillusioned had he become with his repeated fitness troubles.

That was denied by the player and his employers, who have now issued another statement amid further speculation in Wales that Henson might be about to call it quits. He wasn’t involved in Saturday’s pre-season friendly victory over Leeds Carnegie at the Liberty Stadium.

Henson, though, said: “I fully anticipate returning to the Ospreys before too long, having finally overcome the injuries that have been a recurring problem for nearly three years.”

-THE LONG-RUNNING saga between Lote Tuqiri and the Australia Rugby Union seems to have finally reached a conclusion with both parties announcing a negotiated settlement yesterday.

The former NSW Waratahs winger had his contract torn up by the ARU on July 1st, but the circumstances leading to his sacking were not made public and both parties remain tight-lipped on the details.

The ARU has said that Tuqiri had breached the player code of conduct, but not the law, with Tuqiri then taking action against the ARU alleging unfair dismissal.

“Following mediation discussions between the parties, an agreed settlement has been reached and Mr Tuqiri has agreed to discontinue his proceedings against the ARU and NSWRU,” the ARU said in a statement.

“Lote’s very happy with the outcome and now he hopes the clubs are going to start dialling his number,” Tuqiri’s lawyer Mark O’Brien told the Nine Network.