DEAN RICHARDS SET TO SUE

DEAN RICHARDS is set to take European rugby chiefs to the High Court over his three-year Bloodgate ban.

The shamed ex-Harlequins boss is understood to be seething at the whopping suspension dished out for his role in the biggest rugby scandal in decades.

European rugby bosses threw the book at him after it emerged he orchestrated and then covered up Tom Williams' illegal substitution against Leinster in last season's Heineken Cup, a match Quins lost 6-5.

Richards has been consulting legal experts who believe European Rugby Cup organisers have made a serious blunder by failing to explain WHY he was hit with such a lengthy ban.

Springbok Schalk Burger received a paltry eight-week suspension for eye gouging Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald while Matt Stevens got two years after testing positive for cocaine.

Rules for civil courts insist that a clear explanation must be given for the length of penalty imposed.

That has NOT been the case in the Bloodgate affair.

Sport of the World understands Richards is "seriously considering" going to an Irish court to claim damages over the restriction of trade.

A source close to the former England No 8 said: "When Dean went to the second hearing he was very much ready to take what was coming to him.

"As you can imagine this has been a very stressful time for him and his family.

"He knows what he did was wrong but nevertheless the first impression is that the ban is a long one.

"It just doesn't seem proportionate when you consider the length of bans handed out to people who fail drugs tests and eye-gougers."

The three-year ban will cost Richards nearly £500,000 in lost earnings and make him a rugby pariah after 25 years service to the game.

Williams on the other hand will return to rugby on November 19 despite admitting he would have kept quiet if Harlequins paid him £650,000 in the way of a new four-year contract and other benefits.

Taking ERC to the High Court in Dublin - where the decision to boot him out of rugby was made - could cost Richards more than £100,000.

If he loses, he would have to pay the ERC's legal costs as well.

But it is a route he is looking at after receiving assurances from legal experts that he has been badly wronged.

Top sports lawyer Bob Mitchell from Harbottle and Lewis said: "Dean is an ex-policeman but in reality he is a rugby man through and through.

"He has no qualifications, so the restraint of trade law is the route he'd have to go down.

"It's a very difficult thing to prove but he doesn't have many options left available to him.

"He could certainly argue the punishment is unreasonable in its length and is going to prevent him from earning a living for the next three years."

Quins are bracing themselves for another twist in the saga on Tuesday when the ERC board meets to further discuss the case that has rocked rugby.

Quins chief executive Mark Evans has so far escaped punishment but could yet be banned for trying to pressurise Williams into not disclosing evidence to the disciplinary committee.

Club chairman Charles Jillings has already quit over the affair and while club physio Steph Brennan was banned for two years for handing Williams the blood capsule.

The General Medical Council is still considering action against Quins club doctor Wendy Chapman, who cut Williams' mouth with a scalpel in the dressing room to try and deceive officials.

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