Writing in his Guardian Unlimited blog, Paul Rees argues that the 12 month ban for Tom Williams was disproportionate to his crime.
"Twelve months for winking, which is effectively why Williams was banned, is not just draconian but disproportionate. Stick your finger into an opponent's eye and you can enjoy a short lay-off; put two fingers up to those who run the game, which is what Williams, and his club did, and you are out of work for a year. Percy Montgomery only received six months in 2003 for shoving a touch judge to the ground after a row while playing for Newport at Swansea.
"Harlequins are waiting for the written judgment of the three-man disciplinary panel before deciding whether to appeal against Williams's ban and the £215,000 fine, half of which was suspended for two years, levied on the club. What will be of particular interest will be why Williams was singled out, as if he acted alone.
"Dean Richards, the Quins director of rugby, had a misconduct charge levelled against him thrown out, as did the club's physiotherapist and doctor. So if Williams had a fake blood capsule, which he burst in his mouth five minutes from the end of the game so that Nick Evans, the goal-kicker, could return for the final five minutes with Harlequins trailing by a point, where did he get it from and what were his instructions?"
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