The appointment of Richards the ref is sure to raise a smile

Harlequins' bid to put the "bloodgate" scandal behind them has taken a blow after Dean Richards was named referee for their first game of the new season.

But it is not the disgraced former Quins director of rugby who will take charge of the game against Wasps, but a 40-year-old from Berkshire.

He has been a referee since 1995 and the game, part of the Twickenham double header, is his 22nd top-flight match.

Richards the coach is serving a three-year ban over the fake blood scandal.

Quins wing Tom Williams is also suspended until November for his part in the incident which occurred during last season's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leinster.

Former club physiotherapist Steph Brennan is banned for two years, while club chairman Charles Jillings resigned in the aftermath of the incident.

The club was fined £259,000 for using a fake blood injury to make a substitution in the match, and they could face further action after a European Rugby Cup independent disciplinary committee publishes more judgements from the appeal hearing later this week.

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