English Professional Rugby Players' Association chief Damian Hopley has slammed Tom Williams' 12-month suspension for faking a blood injury as 'extraordinary' and 'entirely disproportionate'. The Harlequins winger was yesterday banned for a year and the club was fined â'¬250,000, 50 per cent of which was suspended, after being found to have fabricated a cut to the mouth in last April¿s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster at The Stoop.
Hopley questioned how Williams could deserve a one-year ban given Schalk Burger received an eight-week suspension for eye-gouging Luke Fitzgerald and former Ulster captain Justin Harrison got eight months for admitting three drug-related charges.
'In recent weeks we have seen players found guilty of eye-gouging receiving bans of between eight and 12 weeks, and another player found guilty of misconduct receive an eight-month ban,' said Hopley.
'For Tom Williams to be singled out and handed a 12-month ban is both excessive and entirely disproportionate. It is an extraordinary decision.'
Williams was found to have faked a cut to his mouth which allowed Harlequins to send specialist goal-kicker Nick Evans, who had previously been substituted, back onto the field with five minutes remaining and Leinster leading 6-5.
Television cameras spotted Williams winking towards the bench with blood seemingly smeared around his mouth.
Harlequins managed to engineer a late drop-goal attempt but Evans, who was struggling with a knee injury, pulled it wide and Leinster won the game.
Quins are considering whether to appeal the decision.
The club admitted last night to being 'surprised and disappointed' that Williams was banned given director of rugby Dean Richards plus two members of the club's medical team, physiotherapist Steph Brennan and Dr Wendy Chapman, all had similar misconduct complaints dismissed.
Williams is the Harlequins player representative with the PRA and Hopley believes his previous good character was not taken into account by the independent disciplinary panel, who reached their decision after a three-day hearing.
Hopley said: 'Tom Williams is a player of unquestionable character. His performances for Harlequins demonstrate an excellent work ethic, and his disciplinary record, one yellow card following persistent team infringements in seven years as a professional player, speaks for itself.
'Tom is held in high regard by his team-mates and peers, and as the players' representative for Harlequins he has shown himself to be extremely conscientious. In addition, Tom has willingly given up his spare time to support many activities benefitting the Players' Charity.
'However, no mention or account seems to have been made of Tom's good character and disciplinary record in mitigation against the charge or the length of the ban.
'The PRA looks forward to receiving copies of the judgement and then taking appropriate action.'
The International Rugby Board are understood to have been pleased with the disciplinary committee¿s judgement.
An IRB spokesman said: 'It is a strong deterrant. There is no room in the game for cheating.'
When asked how faking an injury could be considered substantially worse than Burger's offence, the IRB reiterated they are investigating their disciplinary process for eye-gouging.
The IRB announced they would consider stronger punishments for the offence after Burger and Italy captain Sergio Parisse received eight-week suspensions last month.[/b]
