RFU chief Francis Baron has launched a "game-wide taskforce" to review recent damaging issues in English rugby. © Getty Images

But in a move that could be seen as being as controversial as the original incident they have decided to take no further disciplinary action despite a wealth of evidence against the club and the players involved.

You can understand their urgency to reach a swift conclusion on this matter as the whole sorry saga has hogged the headlines for what seems like an age. The desire to wipe the slate clean to ahead of the new domestic season and in particular the launch of the much-hyped Championship (the new-look and newly-named National League One) will have also been a significant factor in the timing of the publication of their findings.

But neither of these points excuses the somewhat speedy and unsatisfactory conclusion.

The European Rugby Cup investigation into Quins’ use of fake blood in their Heineken Cup quarter-final loss to Leinster has already cost the club dear. Former director of rugby Dean Richards has been banned for three years, ex-physio Steph Brennan was hit with a two year sanction while winger Tom Williams face four months on the sidelines.

To their credit Quins were quick to instigate a wide-ranging internal review to establish whether this had been an isolated incident. Sadly for them and us it wasn’t.

With the promise of anonymity and immunity from club disciplinary proceedings, players came forward with evidence of four other instances of the use of fake blood. This evidence in turn was presented to the RFU and explained by Brennan as the issue began to spiral out of the domestic domain.

But rather than go after those guilty of disgracing the game, the RFU have chosen to draw a line under it all in fear of the cold hard fact that these incidents are just the tip of the iceberg.

"It is apparent from evidence provided to the Harlequins internal review by players who described practices in other teams in which they have played, that Harlequins is not the only club which may have been guilty of inappropriate behaviour of a similar kind,” said RFU Disciplinary Officer, Judge Jeff Blackett, who is unfortunately now such a well-known figure in the game.

His assessment is a sad reflection on the current state of the game in England and underlines the size of the problem facing the RFU. But they are not going to earn praise from the sport’s crowing critics by letting those responsible for these latest transgressions off the hook.

"The players named by Mr Brennan have not had the opportunity to respond to any allegations against them,” said Blackett. So why not give them the time to build a case?

"Before taking any action, a further investigation would be required and it would rely on the co-operation of Mr Brennan and Mr Richards. This would take time and continue to attract speculation which might further damage reputations,” Blackett continued.

Time should not be an issue – getting your house in order should be the priority. And by surely not dealing with the mess appropriately you are risking even greater damage to the reputation of the sport and all those tarred by the bloodshed?

“I do not believe it to be in the best interests of the game to publish the names of the players or to initiate disciplinary proceedings,” he concluded.

I’m not sure it is in the best interests of the game to let them off. As I understand they have been granted immunity from club disciplinary proceedings only – and not the wrath of the union. However, I understand how this could lead to an ‘abuse of process’ legal minefield with no real winner.

This last decision will grate particularly with Williams, Richards and Brennan who, as originally feared, have been made the scapegoats for a much wider problem. But Harlequins will breathe another huge sigh of relief just a week or so after escaping the ERC investigation with their Heineken Cup status preserved. The RFU are obviously of the belief that this is a widespread problem and to single out one club would not be fair.

The RFU had to act after what has been a painful few months for the sport and their answer comes in the form of “game-wide taskforce” that will address all the issues raised – and perhaps a few that haven’t yet surfaced. Let’s just hope the formation of this new police force is not overtaken by events.

UPDATE - As feared, the latest twist in this story was just around the corner. The ERC judgment in Williams' appeal and the player's explosive testimony are set to spell further trouble for Harlequins. The RFU may have opted against penalising Quins for the other instances of fake blood but their interest will now surely switch to the conduct of Quins chief executive, Mark Evans, and the club's chairman, Charles Jillings. According to Williams' testimony, the duo pressured him into limiting the scope of his appeal to protect the club - in return he was offered some sweeteners. The RFU is set to wait for the full report before making their next move.

What was left of the club's reputation was already in tatters and it now appears that what is left will be shredded in the wake of these latest revelations. And sadly, this story still has some way to run.

	Picture perfect? © Getty Images

However, there are always the player headshots to fall back on and this year's batch will no doubt raise a smile or two. The pre-season ritual is embraced by most - well aware that the picture will be staring straight back at them from the match day programme each week. For others it the goal appears to be a statement of intent - although the end result is often more comedic rather than barbaric.

Some don't bother to sort their hair out while others obviously spend far too long in search of coiffure perfection. Our sample selection features (from top to bottom) Gloucester's Carlos Spencer, Northampton's Neil Best, Wasps' Dan Leo and Worcester's James Rodwell.

In Rodwell's case their was at least a reason for his quest for a two-tone appearance. His club the Warriors admirably abstained from the razor in aid of the local 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment. As for the others we're not so sure.

	Dean Richards must now consider a career change © Getty Images

Dean Richards carved out a formidable reputation as a player for Leicester, England and the Lions and is widely as one of the greatest players of his generation. As a coach he was equally impressive - steering the Tigers to back-to-back Heineken Cup titles and overseeing the re-birth of Harlequins as a major force in English rugby. But all that now lies in tatters after he was handed a three-year ban for masterminding the fake blood substitution that has cost him, winger Tom Williams, the world-famous Quins and the sport so dear.

Many questioned the original findings of the 'Bloodgate' investigation and there was little surprise when European Rugby Cup chiefs signalled their displeasure too and opted for the appeal.

While it originally appeared that Williams had taken one for the team, it now seems that Richards is the fall guy for rugby as a whole. With the full force of the International Rugby Board, the Rugby Football Union and European Rugby Cup - not to mention the considerable weight of the wider mass media who have pounced on the issue - he has now been cast into the wilderness as the sport desperately tries to restore some credibility.

With the appeal ruling the disciplinary chiefs had to make a very strong statement and thankfully they got it right having fudged the issue on their first attempt. With no precedent an example had to be made of Richards and with a three-year ban they have definitely sent a message that such behaviour will not be tolerated.

Richards can consider himself a little unlucky to be the one to get caught if the tactic is as common as some would have us believe. But he was a fool for trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the officials in such a high-profile game with the eyes of the rugby world centred on his side. The ban is extremely severe but Richards' role in the incident is only part of the story - he is also paying the price for failing to admit his guilt in the original investigation, for orchestrating the subsequent cover-up and, to a certain degree, the shortcomings of the sport.

And what happened to the team ethos that rugby holds so proud? This scandal had the leading protagonists diving for cover to protect themselves leaving one of their number to take the flack. Had the club not been so cowardly in the first place then the fallout may have been contained.

It is a shame that a season that promised so much for Quins - with two thrilling victories over Stade Francais in the same Heineken Cup competition that would be the stage for their downfall - ended in such a manner.

Will the punishment dished out to Richards prevent a repeat? Unlikely. The high-profile nature of this case will ensure the sale of blood capsules fall through the floor but the demands of professionalism will ensure clubs continue to dice with death.

As my colleague John Taylor has suggested a return to independent medical officers on the sidelines or rolling substitutions are perhaps the best options available to the game. Which would get your vote? Medical officers may be able to spot fake blood but if real cuts are being made or old wounds being opened up then they have little chance of spotting foul play. And what of 'injuries' where there is no blood? In my own experience I can vouch that the M in MRI scan does not stand for Mobile.

Maybe rolling subs are the way to go? On the surface this seems like a viable option but there are those who believe that replacements strip matches of momentum and they would see an extension of that as another nail in the coffin of the sport.

Those that don't follow the sport closely may question why this issue has taken to long to come to the boil with Quins having been found guilty of fabricating the injury a month ago. The reason may well be because the tactic employed by Quins is not that shocking to those involved in the game. In fact, if reports are to be believed it is an all too common occurrence.

Coaches and players such as former England coach Dick Best and Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson have recently revealed their exposure to such dishonest tactics but they are now safely ensconced outside the inner workings of the game.

In contrast, England manager Martin Johnson and his skipper Steve Borthwick opted for a straight bat last week insisting they had never been witness to such controversy. But you would not expect them to matter-of-factly confirm its presence in the game. Whatever they say - it happens - we've seen it with our own eyes thanks to the Sky Sports cameras but whether it is common practice on the international stage is another thing altogether.

That form of the game has flirted with its own replacement controversy with the return of Springboks skipper John Smit to the first Test clash with the Lions raising eyebrows - but Lions refused to stir the controversy at the time or since.

And before our rugby cousins start pointing the finger to the ills of the commercially-rich northern hemisphere I think it is a safe bet that this problem is not limited to England, the UK or even Europe. But whether it is as widespread as some reports would have us believe is of course open to debate.

The ill-advised Williams was originally singled out by the investigation and hit with a 12-month ban - a completely over-the-top decision against a player who was allegedly set up as a scapegoat.

Thankfully some sense prevailed with the reduction of his ban - thanks largely to the actions of the player himself - but he can still feel a little hard done by. A cheat he may well be but does his punishment fit the crime? I still don't think so. As previously mentioned here his ban looks ludicrous compared to the comparative slap on the wrist for the likes of South Africa's Schalk Burger who picked up an eight-week ban for his assault on the Lions Luke Fitzgerald earlier this year.

You may or may not agree that jeopardising the integrity of the sport by cheating warrants a stronger sanction than an attempted gouging but what is not in doubt is the fact that by treating the latter so lightly the sport is doing as much damage to the game as any misguided use of fake blood.

Harlequins can count themselves very lucky to have escaped with just a fine - albeit a hefty one. It is amazing to me that a side that treated a tournament with such contempt last season by cheating can be welcomed back into its embrace this season.

By allowing Quins to compete for the European crown this year, ERC are in danger of undoing some of the great work they have put in during the last 10 years to craft the best club competition in the world. I don't buy reports that the monetary sanction was in danger of crippling the Premiership club - such is the strength of their brand and the large following they have benefitted from for many years - even in their brief spell back in National 1.

Rugby now has some work to do to restore its reputation and time will tell if the sport's recent woes will take their toll at the turnstiles or in terms of playing numbers. The sport has long laid claim to the moral high ground but those foundations, built on more than a century of amateur status, now appear very shaky. Sadly, it has only taken 14 years of professionalism to bring us to this day.

And with the Rugby Football Union now investigating more fake injuries unearthed by the Harlequins investigation it appears the sport is a long way from being in the clear.

	Wilkinson strikes a familiar pose on his Top 14 bow for Toulon © Getty Images

It is of course early days but Wilkinson's 17-point haul against Stade Francais is a heartening sign for those who have lived through his numerous ups and downs since he kicked England to Rugby World Cup glory in Australia in 2003.

Time and time again he has been slapped in the face by the fickle hand of fate and was most recently struck down with a dislocated knee cap at the end of last year that brought a premature end to his 12-year career at Newcastle Falcons. But Wilkinson has consistently defied expectation, and those who have urged him to call it a day, by rising like a phoenix from the flames with a competitive drive that surely has no equal.

But is it too soon to hail the return of the 'old' Wilkinson? In a word - yes. But that is not to say that there is no reason for Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal, coach Phillippe Saint-Andre and England manager Martin Johnson - all of whom have a vested interest in the No.10 - to be smiling today.

Wilkinson's performance against his side's Paris-based rivals was far from perfect with the odd handling error and mis-directed place kick blighting his report card. And there appeared to be a lack of a zip to his running game but speed has never been his greatest asset. But after 10 months on the sidelines you can forgive a bit of rust.

Saint-Andre told ESPN last week that he does not expect to see Wilkinson at his best until he has 10 games under his belt and using that sort of timescale England could have a fit and firing Wilkinson in time for this year's November internationals against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand. That is as long as he can remain injury-free and steer well clear of the all too common fisticuffs or bagarre générale that proliferate France's top flight.

The warm welcome Wilkinson has received since switching to the continent may well go a long way to explaining the smile on his face of late, while the Mediterranean sun will have also been a welcome change to the often Arctic-like north east of England and Kingston Park. And despite his latest lengthy spell on the sidelines his star does not appear to be fading. He is already the subject of much adoration within the rugby-mad Toulon with a roar greeting his first successful kick on Friday night and a plethora of banners bearing his name.

There is no doubt that the club's passionate following have taken their club's latest high-profile signing to their hearts and the fluent French player speaker will have also won many friends since his arrival with his linguistic skills. At home the story is as it always has been. Eight months after an epic six-hour signing session at the launch of his latest book, Wilkinson was back at Twickenham this week risking repetitive strain injury at England's open training session.

As part of England's PR push, Wilkinson and his team mates spent hours obliging the estimated 4,500 fans who took advantage of the opportunity to watch the team begin their preparations for the November internationals. And not surprisingly, Wilkinson was in high demand.

A happy and fit Wilkinson is good news for nearly everyone. He is destined to be one of the stars of this Top 14 season but will no doubt have to fight for the headlines in a league blessed with talented fly-halves such as Clermont's Brock James, Stade's Lionel Beauxis, Toulouse's Frederic Michalak and Brive's own Englishman Andy Goode. His signature was not only a coup for Toulon but also the Top 14.

There will no doubt be the odd scare but at 30 years of age the seemingly indestructible Wilkinson could well be on the verge of another golden era.

	England's James Haskell gets ready for the new Super 14 season © Stade.fr

This season's third kit - modeled on the right by new recruit James Haskell - features a tattoo-inspired design incorporating a flurry of Fleur-de-lys so common in French heraldry, lightning bolts and raging seas. A real feast for the eyes - and all in glorious technicolour.

Those longing for the face of Blanche de Castille, the wife of Louis VIII, that memorably emblazoned last season's third kit can rest assured she has found a new home on the team's change strip - something of a promotion?

Who knows how much club president Max Guazzini makes from the sale of these shirts - I can't imagine the figure hugging style suiting the average fan - but at 78 euros (£67) they must be swelling the club's coffers. In comparison Leicester Tigers' new shirt will set you back £45.

On the subject of the cost of supporting your side - a top price ticket for the 12,000-capacity Stade Jean Bouin will set you back 60 euros (£51) although you will no doubt get a cheaper ticket for one of the five games Stade are set to switch to the 80,000 capacity Stade de France. In comparison, the most you will pay to see the Tigers at their re-vamped 24,000-seater Welford Road home this season is £35.

It appears it is not only the club owners who have deep pockets in France's Top 14.

And such prices are not just the domain of the league's gig guns. Big spending Toulon only just escaped relegation last year and as a result club president Mourad Boudjellal dusted off his cheque book again this summer. Perhaps as a result, the best seat at Toulon's Stade Mayol home will cost you 55 euros (£47) and a Toulon/Jonny Wilkinson No.10 shirt will cost you 79 euros (£68) via the club's website.

Many readers have inquired about the latter which suggests a fair few of you are planning your own Top 14 sojourn this season à la New Zealand's Dan Carter. And if you are planning to follow the injury-prone England fly-half on the latest leg of his storied career then rest assured that you will have to dig deep to do so!

	Richards hangs his head following his side's Heineken Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Leinster last season © Getty Images

The debateable decision to only ban Quins' Tom Williams for a year for his part in the incident and to hit the club with a fine - and with it suggest the player was working alone - was never going to sit easy with anyone in the rugby community. And it appears the club's own investigation has uncovered some harsh truths.

The latest twist to this long-running saga is unlikely to be the last with European Rugby Cup officials making the bold step to appeal the ruling of the independent disciplinary panel that dismissed charges of misconduct laid against Richards, club doctor Wendy Chapman and physiotherapist Steph Brennan. Unsurprisingly it appears ERC chiefs are not happy with that decision - nor the £215,000 fine handed down to the club as a whole - 50% of which is suspended for two years. As things stand Harlequins will take their place in next season's Heineken Cup but their place amongst Europe's elite is now very much in jeopardy.

ERC, along with the rest of the rugby world, obviously feel justice has not been done in this case. They realise that the findings of the disciplinary panel reflect badly on the tournament as a whole and as guardians of the arguably the sport's most entertaining and intense competition they are determined not to see 10 years of hard work in terms of brand building ruined.

There was no way that Williams acted alone and Quins' own findings will have surely underlined this fact. Richards' resignation does not necessarily cement his guilt - although many will assume as much - but as boss of the playing side of the club he had to fall on his sword. This total disregard for the Laws of the Game happened on his watch and so he must accept responsibility.

My Scrum colleague, John Taylor, hinted that the independent investigators were confronted by a wall of silence at the club hence their failure to finger anyone else for the crime except Williams whose wink to the camera with fake blood gushing from his mouth sealed his own fate. And there was little wonder that Quins readily accepted the findings of the panel (except for the length of Williams' ban) - they had conjured an escape worthy of a World War II prison camp movie. The club has sensibly accepted the sanction handed down to them but they will be rightly concerned by ERC's decision to demand yet another review of the evidence and the findings.

With the indignation of the rugby community ringing in their ears and maybe some sort of informal input from the International Rugby Board, Harlequins were perhaps all too aware that their own investigation, which is on-going, could not reach such an unsatisfactory conclusion. It was during this process that Richards tendered his resignation which was accepted by his board. Maybe the most face-saving exit available to Richards? Either way it is a sad end for someone who has overseen an exciting period of development for the club. Richards himself has yet to comment directly on the incident and don't hold your breath in anticipation of him doing so in fear of burning any bridges that will allow him to return to the game.

Harlequins are well aware of the damage that this saga has done to not only their reputation but that of the sport and as a result have pledged to establish, "an appropriate ethics code for all staff" with the aim of preventing a repeat. It is a shame that such formalities are required.

It has taken four months for us to reach this point and we are still not at the end of the story. Stay tuned for the next excruciating chapter and let's hope it does not drag on into the new season. Quins are scheduled to play their first Heineken Cup game on October 10 - surely it will not take that long?