The fall-out from Harlequins' Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster reached a head today with the resignation of director of rugby Dean Richards, while it was also confirmed Tom Williams is appealing against his 12-month ban.
The wing or full-back was found to have faked a blood injury to allow substituted fly-half Nick Evans to return to the field with five minutes remaining of the match in April.
Television cameras spotted Williams winking towards the bench with 'blood' smeared around his mouth.
Williams was given a year-long ban following the conclusion of the European Rugby Cup disciplinary panel's hearing on July 20 while the club were fined 250,000 euros, half of which was suspended.
Quins are currently reviewing the incident, and a statement today read: "During the course of this process Dean Richards unreservedly tendered his resignation from his post as director of rugby.
'The board of Harlequins has accepted his resignation.'
The disciplinary panel's full written judgment was emailed to Williams and Harlequins on Wednesday and they were given until this afternoon to appeal.
The player has now taken that course of action, although he is only appealing against the length of the ban - which Professional Rugby Players' Association chief executive Damian Hopley described as 'excessive and entirely disproportionate'.
A Quins statement this morning also expressed support for Williams, 25, saying: 'The club feels strongly that the severity of the sanction meted out to Tom Williams is unfair and disproportionate and the club will support him in the event of an appeal on his part against the 12-month playing ban currently in place.'
Quins accepted their fine but could yet face further punishment after the ERC today revealed disciplinary officer Roger O'Connor has appealed against that sanction.
Dean Richards, meanwhile, could also face further action along with medical staff Dr Wendy Chapman and physio Steph Brennan after O'Connor also appealed against the decision to dismiss charges against the trio during the initial hearings.
An ERC statement today read: 'Mr Williams' appeal is against the sanction only and not the decision of the committee while Harlequins have not lodged an appeal against either the decision or the sanction imposed on them by the committee.
'Details of the independent appeal committee and the date for the independent appeal hearing will be announced early next week.'
Quins have accepted full responsibility for the events at the Twickenham Stoop and in this morning's statement detailed the steps they are taking in response to the ERC panel's findings.
The statement continued: 'Following the hearing held and decision made by the ERC panel on July 20, the club has conducted its own review of the incident. This review is still ongoing.
'As part of this process, the club has waited for the written judgment to ensure it had considered carefully the concerns and position of the ERC disciplinary panel.
'The club fully accepts the verdicts and sanctions imposed upon the club since it is accountable for the failings of its staff. We acknowledge that this whole episode has tarnished the image of the club, which has always sought to uphold the highest standards.
'The level of scrutiny that clubs such as Harlequins now find themselves under means that procedures and processes which may have served us well in the past are no longer adequate.
'The club is urgently undertaking a thorough review of its internal policies with a view to establishing an appropriate ethics code for all staff (both playing and non playing) covering a wide range of areas including respect for the laws of the game.
'While this process is still progressing there will no further comment from the club.'
Richards, who has not spoken in public about the incident, established himself as one of the world's leading players and then coaches in a 20-year spell with Leicester Tigers.
The number eight played 314 games for Leicester, winning two league titles and two cups. He was capped 48 times by England between 1982 and 1997 and played on two British and Irish Lions tours.
Richards, 46, took over as director of rugby at Welford Road in 1998 and won four consecutive league titles as well as back-to-back Heineken Cups in 2001 and 2002.
A decline in fortunes led to his sacking in 2004 and a short spell in charge at Grenoble preceded his appointment at Quins in 2005.
He led the Londoners to promotion back to the Premiership in his first season and established them as a top-flight side over the next three years.
Quins finished second in the table last season before losing in the play-offs to London Irish.
