18 August 2009 (01:26)

Dean Richards has been banned from any involvement in the Heineken Cup for three years after being found guilty of organising the fabrication of a blood injury when he was director of rugby at Harlequins.

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“(An independent appeals) committee (has) imposed a suspension of three years on Mr Richards from participating in any capacity in ERC (European Rugby Cup) tournaments and will be requesting other tournaments and governing bodies give effect to this suspension in their tournaments,” the ERC said in a news release on Monday.

“The ERC … found Mr Richards was guilty of misconduct in that he organised the fabrication of a wound or blood injury. Mr Richards acknowledged he had orchestrated the subsequent cover up of the incident.”

Former England forward Richards stepped down as director of rugby at Harlequins earlier this month.