'It wasn't in my mind to check whether there was fake blood... I hadn't come across that before or even heard talk of it'
Nigel Owens has admitted there was nothing more he could have done at The Stoop 10 years ago when the Bloodgate saga played out in the infamous Harlequins-Leinster European Cup quarter-final.
The Welsh official was referee on that never forgotten Sunday a decade ago when Quins got winger Tom Williams to bite into a fake blood capsule so that Dean Richards could get his kicker Nick Evans back on the field as a blood sub in a match the Londoners were to lose 5-6.
Writing in his weekly walesonline.com column, Owens reflected how the controversy unfolded and is still incredulous Harlequins tried to cheat their way to victory.
“Could I have done anything more to prevent the above events unfolding? Probably not,” wrote the referee about a bust-up that would surely have had far deeper repercussions had Leinster not won the quarter-final en route to winning the trophy that season.
“Call me naive and overly trusting, but it certainly didn’t cross my mind that something like that would happen in rugby. I wasn’t qualified to go over and test whether there was fake blood.
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“Had I asked to see the cut, the people handling Williams could have told me it was at the back of his throat and so wasn’t visible. Not being medically trained, I wouldn’t have been able to agree with that contention or dispute it.
“There has to be an element of trust. In those days, there was no neutral match-day doctor. My concern when Williams left the pitch was to make sure Evans had earlier been substituted for a tactical reason rather than an injury. Had he gone off for the latter, he would not have been allowed to return.
“Once I had established he had been subbed for tactical reasons it was permissible to allow him to replace a team-mate with a blood injury. It wasn’t in my mind to check whether there was fake blood. I’d seen a lot in the game, but I hadn’t come across that before or even heard talk of it.”
The true story of Nigel Owens, bloodgate and the day a scandal changed rugby foreverhttps://t.co/ZoTYqC4F8Z pic.twitter.com/FVVQfBd58d
— WalesOnline (@WalesOnline) April 13, 2019
The first Owens really knew that something dubious had taken place was when he entered the changing room following the match to be to Leinster had made an allegation concerning the use of fake blood. He went on to add that he had little to do with the ensuing investigation, merely telling those who asked at the inquest what he has seen and done at the time.
Ten years on from the fall-out, he insisted rugby must continue to be vigilant if it is to keep its integrity. “Some good did come from the episode because it proved a watershed moment for rugby union,” he said.
“It raised awareness and let people know that our sport can be affected by cheating as much as any other sport. But rugby deals with these issues and we haven’t seen the like of it since — certainly nothing so wild and audacious.
“We can’t take the moral high ground as things do go on in our sport that are unacceptable but rugby tends to deal with the issues firmly but fairly.
“I don’t want to come over all preachy, but no matter how much cash is involved, we have to uphold the integrity of the game. This was more than gamesmanship and pushing the boundaries.
“It was cheating and bringing the game into disrepute. There’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed in sport. Sadly, a decade ago, such a border was crossed.”
WATCH: Jim Hamilton explore the rugby sights of South Africa
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments