'Bloodgate' bosses set to learn their fate

Harlequins chief executive Mark Evans and former chairman Charles Jillings will discover today if they are to face misconduct charges over their part in the Bloodgate scandal.

The pair could be in the firing line if European Rugby Cup officials prove they made attempts to prevent wing Tom Williams revealing the scale of the cover-up at The Stoop.

The ERC board will consider whether their conduct in pressurising the player to keep quiet justifies new action.

Williams's revelations about the cover-up that followed his botched attempt to fake a blood injury came before an appeal hearing at which director of rugby Dean Richards was banned for three years, physiotherapist Steph Brennan for two years, and the club fined £258,000.

Williams had his ban reduced from 12 months to four for assisting the appeal.

The ERC board said last week that they accepted the rulings of the disciplinary committee, but were "concerned with many of the issues and practices raised".

The board have reserved the right to instruct their disciplinary officers to investigate issues "not covered or dealt with within the disciplinary hearings to date".