Former England captain Martin Corry believes Dean Richards has the character to recover from the fake blood scandal that has placed his future in the game in serious doubt.
Corry, who played under the former England number eight and Leicester great during a trophy-laden spell at Welford Road, admits the incident was ill-advised after Richards resigned as Harlequins director of rugby.
"It's a shame what's happened to Dean but in the professional game those things can't go on," said Corry, speaking on behalf of the Skyride bike event that takes places in Leicester on August 30. "Dean has got to deal with this but in terms of his character he's strong enough to bounce back."
He added: "With all the TV cameras at matches now you can't get away with things.
"Dean was one of my heroes as a kid. He was also my manager and took Leicester through one of their most successful periods.
"It's an unfortunate incident and one of English rugby's most iconic figures has been caught up in it all."
The debacle at Harlequins is just one of a series of recent incidents that has left rugby mounting a damage limitation exercise in an attempt to restore its once-wholesome image.
A high-profile spate of eye-gouging, including by world class players Sergio Parisse and Schalk Burger, the ensuing defence of rugby's most unforgivable offence by South Africa coach Peter de Villiers and the suspension of five Bath players for drug-related issues have also blighted the sport.
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This is no different to Phil Vickery and co mysteriousely getting injured when Wasps play Leicester, so that uncontested scrums are needed, and then being perfectly fit a couple of days later to play lesser teams. Cheating occurs all the time and management make a spur of the minute decision to feint injury so that uncontested scrums or blood replacements are needed, all the time. For me eye gouging is the worst crime of the lot and if any offence should be punishable by a 12 month ban, that is it. Unfortunately the IRB is so toothless it can't stand up to national bodies, Schalk Burger and SAFU being a case in point. 6 weeks is a joke for what he did.
@no.2
Cheating is the Leicester way? sounds like you are looking for a reason for your team being beaten. Yes im a tigers supporter, but Leicester as a team are no different than an other team in every league in the world. People get carried away with the game, they see a gap or a opportunity and try and take it, sometimes these are illegal offenses that most of the time get seen by the ref. Im sure the team you support is no different, Only difference is you chose to ingore it.
As for the scandal. It is disappointing to see these things happen. I believe the length of the band is a warning to other players. This is the first time this has happened - well caught happening anyway - and the rugby board are making a huge point so this will never happen again. Lets hope it doesn't.
Perhaps young Tom should take his problem to an industrial tribunal
Let us just remember that Dean Richards has not so far been found guilty of anything. As I understand it the first disciplinary enquiry has absolved him and two other Harlequins officials. Whether further information will be revealed during the Williams appeal we shall have to wait and see. We do not know yet the reason for Dean Richards' resignation
The Leicester old boy network stands together. Cheating is the Leicester way and is endemic in their game, so what is the problem?
Dean is a good guy and was a great player for England and Lions and has done an outstanding job as coach of Leics and Harlequins, but there should be no way to "bounce back" from systematic cheating in this game.
There are enough opportunities to get away with a spur of the moment "bit on the blind side" by a player, which is part of the game, but not pre-meditated cheating by coaches and clubs.
It was not Tom Williams idea to have a blood capsule in his sock.
Rugby does not need anyone who sanctions or orders calculated cheating, no matter who they played for.
perhaps he could join yahoo with Neil Back, they have a lot in common when it comes to cheating.
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