Schalk Burger got dragged into the “Bloodgate” scandal at Harlequins club this weekend. Harlequins Director of Rugby was slapped with a three-year ban for his involvement in the faking of blood.
Richard’s lawyer Mark Gay argued on Sunday that his punishment was “disproportionate.” He cited the eight-week ban given Burger following an eye-gouging citing in June.
“I think it is excessive in the context,” Gay told BBC Radio 5.
“You have to look at what the offense was. What the player was involved with was feigning injury and, to my mind, feigning injury is less serious than causing injury and Schalk Burger got eight weeks for gouging.
“To my mind, it’s a very savage sanction, disproportionate, and really is one which in all conscience, ERC (European Rjg by Club) should not have imposed,” Gay said.
“He has taken full responsibility for what has happened,” Gay said. “I really do think the committee should have taken account of that.
“Of course the cover up really hurts you more than the offense itself, but even in the context of that it’s a savage ban to impose – a ban which could in all intents and purposes have been a life ban on a person like Dean, who has given his life to the game.”
Some of you may not know the exact details of the scandal as we don’t always follow Northern Hemisphere rugby as we do when our local teams are involved. Below is an article on what happened that day.
Fake Blood Used In Harlequins Rugby
Total Pro Sports – It is amazing how far some will go to help lead their team to victory. While some would be willing to take a few punches in order to change the momentum, others have shown that they have no problem with cheating. Look no further than Boston’s beloved franchises.
In England, the notion of cheating was taken to a whole new level.
It was all part of a plan put together by Harlequins’ director of rugby Dean Richards, and club physio Steph Brennan. Richards ordered Brennan to purchase a pack of blood capsules from a Clapham joke shop. The capsules were to be used by players in order to fake injuries during a Heineken Cup match against Leinster.
The player they used as their subject was Quins full-back Tom Williams, a young but promising player who obliged when asked to commit the act.
Willliams admits that when he was handed the fake blood capsule on the pitch by Brennan he put it in his sock and then pulled it out after a contact situation and tried to bite on it. The capsule fell out of his mouth, forcing him to pick it up and and try the whole process again in full view of the sold-out stadium and television cameras. [ThisIsLondon.co.uk]
When officials of Leinster began yelling that the blood was not real, Williams asked the club doctor Wendy Chapman to cut the inside of his lip with a scalpel.
The pantomime nature of the incident continued in the medical rooms under the stand with Williams and Dr Chapman initially having to avoid the gaze of doubting officials and find a room where they could cut his lip. A picture was taken of the cut which was neatly done and did not require any stitches.
In a hearing on the incident, Williams claimed that he was given a lucrative offer of compensation by club chairman Charles Jillings, and chief executive Mark Evans if he agreed to hide the complete details of the situation by making a “limited” appeal. The offer included compensation for a 12-month ban, a new four-year contract, and an offer of employment with the team following his retirement. This move was made in a effort to prevent the team from receiving a Heineken Cup ban and relegation.
Williams had refused such offers and has come forth with the complete details, which were uncovered during the hearing. He was given a 4-month ban for his involvement in Bloodgate, while Richards has received a 3-year ban, Brennan got a 2-year ban, and the club was fined £259,000.
What may have initially seemed like a good idea for the Harlequins rugby club has turned into a costly one. Next time Harlequins are looking for blood, they should consider just asking their players to bite his tongue during the game, rather than later on at the hearing.
Cheating like this is unacceptable and I am sure we all agree. But what punishment is really fair? Was Schalk lucky to get only 8 weeks? Is a three year ban too much? Do other teams also cheat, with Quins just stupid enough to be caught? Is faking a blood injury to get a kicker on the field different than faking an “injury” to a prop to force uncontested scrums?
What are your thoughts?
@Puma – No cant be it will be morning there.
@Supa Die Bloubul – 41 One point that was overlooked here. Evidently Deans did something similar in 3-4 other matches. So there was a pattern of cheating. This was not a one off deal. Thus the 3 year suspension.
@Ex Player – 100 Not if with your downward pressure the TH squeezes the LH out & away from his hooker. It’s crucial that the TH does not let the LH get his head on your chest. Then you are in trouble as Smit found out Saturday.
Cheers all. Having a early night tonight. Catch up again tomorrow.
When Carol comes back on tell her she walked those dogs for far too long.hahaha.
Cheers.
@Puma – 326 Hi Puma. No I don’t think Burger will do that again. Somehow I don’t think it’s in his nature.
I suspect Brussow will have a better game unless PDV does not start him, which with PDV is a possibility.
I have a great deal of respect & admiration for Juan Smith. He is an honest warrior, good in the trenches. I would always want him on my team. As for Spies, I don’t know about Spies. He’s referred to as a Superman but I’ve never seen him put in a Superman performance. Maybe they should put him back on the wing (S14 initially) & see what happens. Not sure he’s cut out for forward play.
@tight head – 121 Exception might be Hayman, you think? He’s tall right?
@Supa Die Bloubul – 124 LOL
@Ex Player – 156 I think flankers are allowed to put hand on ground or am I wrong on that?
338@JimT – That they may do!
Did anyone see the 2010 s14 fixture list?
Tactics for Saturday? ABs have to play expansive game to gain 5 pts. Boks need to shut the game down & prevent ABs securing 5 pts. Simple as that, maybe not a lot of fun but it’s the professional era, it’s all about winning the title.
Vodacom Super 14 Schedule for 2010 (subject to change – kick-off times local and GMT):
Week 1:
Friday, February 12:
Blues v Hurricanes (Auckland – 19.35, 07.35)
Western Force v Brumbies (Perth – 19.05, 11.05)
Cheetahs v Bulls (Bloemfontein – 19.10, 17.10)
Saturday, February 13:
Crusaders v Highlanders (Christchurch – 19.35, 06.35)
Reds v Waratahs (Brisbane – 18.40, 08.40)
Lions v Stormers (Johannesburg – 17.05, 15.05)
Sharks v Chiefs (Durban – 19.10, 17.10)
Week 2:
Friday, February 19:
Highlanders v Blues (Dunedin – 19.35, 06.35)
Reds v Crusaders (Brisbane – 19.45, 09.45)
Sharks v Cheetahs (Durban, 18.00, 16.00)
Lions v Chiefs (Johannesburg – 20.00, 18.00)
Saturday, February 20:
Hurricanes v Western Force (Wellington – 19.35, 06.35)
Bulls v Brumbies (Pretoria – 17.05, 15.05)
Stormers v Waratahs (Cape Town – 19.10, 17.10)
Week 3:
Friday, February 26:
Crusaders v Sharks (Christchurch – 19.35, 06.35)
Stormers v Brumbies (Cape Town – 19.10, 17.10)
Saturday, February 27:
Hurricanes v Lions (Wellington – 19.35, 06.35)
Reds v Blues (Brisbane – 18.40, 08.40)
Western Force v Chiefs (Perth – 19.05, 11.05)
Cheetahs v Highlanders (Bloemfontein – 17.05, 15.05)
Bulls v Waratahs (Pretoria – 19.10, 17.10)
Week 4:
Friday, March 5:
Chiefs v Reds (Hamilton – 19.35, 06.35)
Brumbies v Lions (Canberra – 19.40, 08.40)
Saturday, March 6:
Crusaders v Blues (Christchurch – 19.35, 06.35)
Waratahs v Sharks (Sydney – 19.40, 08.40)
Stormers v Highlanders (Cape Town – 17.05, 15.05)
Cheetahs v Hurricanes (Bloemfontein – 19.10, 17.10)
Bye: Bulls & Western Force
Week 5:
Friday, March 12:
Chiefs v Crusaders (Hamilton – 19.35, 06.35)
Waratahs v Lions (Sydney – 19.40, 08.40)
Saturday, March 13:
Brumbies v Sharks (Canberra – 19.40, 08.40)
Bulls v Highlanders (Pretoria – 17.05, 15.05)
Stormers v Hurricanes (Cape Town – 19.10, 17.10)
Sunday, March 14:
Reds v Western Force (Brisbane – 16.30, 06.30)
Bye: Cheetahs & Blues
Week 6:
Friday, March 19:
Blues v Brumbies (Auckland – 19.35, 06.35)
Bulls v Hurricanes (Pretoria – 19.10, 17.10)
Saturday, March 20:
Crusaders v Lions (Christchurch – 17.30, 04.30)
Highlanders v Sharks (Dunedin – 19.35, 06.35)
Western Force v Waratahs (Perth – 19.10, 11.10)
Stormers v Cheetahs (Cape Town – 17.05, 15.05)
Bye: Reds & Chiefs
Week 7:
Friday, March 26:
Highlanders v Lions (Dunedin – 19.35, 06.35)
Brumbies v Chiefs (Canberra – 19.40, 08.40)
Cheetahs v Reds (Bloemfontein – 19.10, 17.10)
Saturday, March 27:
Hurricanes v Sharks (Wellington – 19.35, 06.35)
Waratahs v Blues (Sydney – 19.40, 08.40)
Western Force v Bulls (Perth – 19.10, 11.10)
Bye: Stormers & Crusaders
Week 8:
Friday, April 2:
Hurricanes v Crusaders (Wellington – 19.35, 06.35)
Western Force v Stormers (Perth – 18.05, 10.05)
Saturday, April 3:
Blues v Bulls (Auckland – 17.30, 04.30)
Chiefs v Highlanders (Mt Maunganui – 19.35, 06.35)
Waratahs v Cheetahs (Sydney – 19.40, 08.40)
Sharks v Reds (Durban – 17.05, 15.05)
Bye: Brumbies & Lions
Week 9:
Friday, April 9:
Chiefs v Bulls (Hamilton – 19.35, 07.35)
Saturday, April 10:
Highlanders v Western Force (Queenstown – 14.30, 02.30)
Blues v Stormers (Auckland – 17.30, 05.30)
Crusaders v Waratahs (Christchurch – 19.35, 07.35)
Brumbies v Cheetahs (Canberra – 19.40, 09.40)
Lions v Reds (Johannesburg – 19.10, 17.10)
Bye: Sharks & Hurricanes
Week 10:
Friday, April 16:
Chiefs v Stormers (Hamilton – 19.35, 07.35)
Brumbies v Hurricanes (Canberra – 19.40, 09.40)
Saturday, April 17:
Blues v Western Force (Auckland – 17.30, 05.30)
Crusaders v Cheetahs (Christchurch – 19.35, 07.35)
Reds v Bulls (Brisbane – 19.40, 11.40)
Lions v Sharks (Johannesburg – 17.05, 15.05)
Bye: Waratahs & Highlanders
Week 11:
Friday, April 23:
Chiefs v Cheetahs (Hamilton – 19.35, 07.35)
Reds v Stormers (Brisbane – 19.40, 09.40)
Western Force v Crusaders (Perth – 19.45, 11.45)
Saturday, April 24:
Highlanders v Hurricanes (Dunedin – 19.35, 07.35)
Waratahs v Brumbies (Sydney – 19.40, 09.40)
Bulls v Lions (Pretoria – 15.00, 13.00)
Sharks v Blues (Durban – 17.05, 15.05)
Week 12:
Friday, April 30:
Highlanders v Waratahs (Invercargill – 19.35, 07.35)
Stormers v Crusaders (Cape Town – 19.10, 17.10)
Saturday, May 1:
Hurricanes v Chiefs (Wellington – 19.35, 07.35)
Brumbies v Reds (Canberra – 19.40, 09.40)
Cheetahs v Blues (Bloemfontein – 15.00, 13.00)
Lions v Western Force (Johannesburg – 17.05, 15.05)
Bulls v Sharks (Pretoria – 19.10, 17.10)
Week 13:
Friday, May 7:
Hurricanes v Reds (Wellington – 19.35, 07.35)
Lions v Blues (Johannesburg – 19.10, 17.10)
Saturday, May 8:
Chiefs v Waratahs (Hamilton – 19.35, 07.35)
Brumbies v Highlanders (Canberra – 19.40, 09.40)
Bulls v Crusaders (Pretoria – 15.00, 13.00)
Cheetahs v Western Force (Bloemfontein – 17.05, 15.05)
Sharks v Stormers (Durban – 19.10, 17.10)
Week 14:
Friday, May 14:
Blues v Chiefs (Auckland – 19.35, 07.35)
Waratahs v Hurricanes (Sydney – 19.40, 09.40)
Sharks v Western Force (Durban – 19.10, 17.10)
Saturday, May 15:
Crusaders v Brumbies (Christchurch – 19.35, 07.35)
Reds v Highlanders (Brisbane – 19.40, 09.40)
Cheetahs v Lions (Kimberley – 15.00, 13.00)
Stormers v Bulls (Cape Town – 17.05, 15.05)
Week 15 – Semifinals
Friday, May 21
Saturday, May 22
Week 16 – Final
Saturday, May 29
Crusaders don’t travel to SA until week 12? That’s nice. 🙂
342@superBul – I’ve asked PissAnt to do an Article for us, analysing the Super 14 fixtures and which Teams have an easy schedule and which Teams have a difficult schedule…
Don’t know whether he’s received the Mail yet.
Apparently the Bulls have a very favourable schedule…
@grootblousmile – 344
Yes looks like it.
Are we going down to Cape Town for the last s14 game, we must plan a RT tour down there.
345@superBul – Yip, why not…. a R-T rugby Tour….. sounds awesome !
Make a week of it…. not just a few days….
@Puma – 334 Puma – Phew…..I made it!! Back at last 🙂
@grootblousmile – 346 Then NEXT year EYOT if Boks back in Britain…..ALL BACK TO CAROLS!!! – Party…
Rugby Talkers on Tour – “2010 No Holds Barred” (Except the hold that Jim T was planning on ladies in the scrum at the mixed rugby match)!!
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