LONDON, Aug 17, 2009 (AFP) - Former Harlequins rugby director Dean Richards was banned from coaching for three years by an independent European Rugby Cup (ERC) disciplinary committee in Glasgow on Monday.
      
The ban, imposed after nearly 14 hours deliberation, for Richards's role in Harlequins' 'bloodgate' row, applies to European competitions.
      
But the ERC will request that, in line with standard rugby union policy, it applies worldwide.
      
Monday's hearing revealed that there had been four previous occasions in non ERC tournaments when Richards and team physio Steph Brennan had fabricated a wound or blood injury.
      
Tom Williams, the player at the centre of the scandal, saw Monday's hearing reduce his 12-month playing ban to four months.
      
Brennan, now working for the Rugby Football Union, England's national governing body, was banned from European competitions for two years after admitting his part in the affair on Monday.
      
But team doctor Wendy Chapman, who was cleared at the initial hearing, saw a three-man panel, chaired by Scotland's Rod McKenzie, take no action against her because it said it lacked jurisdiction under the rules in this case.
      
English Premiership side Harlequins saw their fine increased from 250,000 euros (216,000 pounds) to 300,000 euros (260,000 pounds).
      
This is now to be paid in full by December 1 after 50 percent of the initial fine was suspended.
      
Ex-England No 8 Richards resigned as Quins boss last week following the fall-out from the incident where Williams used fake blood during a European Cup quarter-final against eventual champions Leinster on April 12 to create the appearance of a cut in his mouth in order to allow a substitute onto the field.
      
"I had to hold my hands up," Richards, who also played for the British and Irish Lions, said after Monday's hearing.
      
Meanwhile a relieved Williams, free to resume playing on November 20, apologised for his role in the affair and said he hoped his case would serve as a warning to other players.
      
"I regret the role I played in this episode that caused so much damage to rugby union," he said. "I let down the club, my team-mates and the fans and I will have to live with that."
      
He added: "I realise the grave error of judgment I have made.
      
"I hope, as a result of this episode, that no players are put in such a compromising position.
      
"If they are I hope they tell the truth, as I wish I had done from the outset," the winger explained.
      
An ERC statement issued after Monday's hearing said Williams's ban had been reduced after the player's introduction of new evidence which revealed the roles played by Richards and Brennan in fabricating the blood injury as well as disclosing full details of the steps taken by those involved in the subsequent cover-up.
      
Williams was banned in July by an initial ERC hearing which cleared Richards, Chapman and Brennan.
      
But the verdicts on the three officials were challenged by ERC disciplinary officer Roger O'Connor while Williams appealed against his ban.
      
Monday's panel said they'd increased Quins' fine because the club was "vicariously liable for the actions of its employees and the level of misconduct by its employees was of a greater magnitude than had been established in the original hearing".
      
One saving grace for Quins was the committee's decision not to expel them from next season's European Cup.
      
A Harlequins statement issued Monday said: "Whilst the club are pleased that Tom Williams's ban has been reduced, we feel this is a very significant penalty in terms of a fine.
      
"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."
      
Richards, 46, who guided Leicester, the club where he made his name as a player, to two European Cups and four English titles before being sacked in 2004, helped Quins bounce back from relegation to English rugby's second tier to runners-up last term in the Premiership's regular season. 
      
Williams was found guilty of faking a blood injury so he could be replaced in the closing minutes at the Twickenham Stoop, the London side's home ground.
     
Quins were trailing 6-5 at the time and the substitution allowed them to get first choice goal-kicker Nick Evans back onto the field.
      
But the move ultimately failed with the New Zealander unable to land the points that would have seen Quins to victory.